Please tell us your name, degree, where you currently work, position.
Simon Jones, BSc (Hons), PhD in Biochemistry
As Professor of Inflammation Biology in the School of Medicine at Cardiff University, I am co-director of the Systems Immunity Research Institute, where I lead multimorbidity research as a co-director of the Hodge Centre for Translational Neuroscience.
Where did you do your training?
On completing my PhD training in the Biochemistry Department at Bristol University, I moved to Switzerland to work with Marco Baggiolini in the Theodor Kocher Institüt at the Universität Bern. At this time, the institute was a centre of excellence in chemokine biology, and my research of chemokines heightened my interest in leukocyte recruitment and inflammation. I then moved to Alabama to work with Gerald Fuller in the Department of Cell Biology at UAB. Gerry had a central interest in the acute phase response and had identified hepatocyte-stimulating factor, which would later become IL-6. Working in the laboratory, I became interested in IL-6 trans-signalling and its involvement in controlling leukocyte recruitment and activation in inflammation.
Briefly, what is your research about?
My research investigates how cells sense and interpret cytokine cues to control inflammation and instruct disease progression. Studies in my lab typically combine approaches in mice with investigations in human disease, and my research benefits from close collaboration with clinical colleagues. Discoveries from my laboratory explain how disease heterogeneity evolves in rheumatoid arthritis and how infections contribute to treatment failure in renal patients on peritoneal dialysis. These findings have pioneered therapeutic advances in biological medicines, contributed new animal models, and described novel mechanisms of immunopathology. My cytokine research comprises three interconnected themes. These investigate how cytokines control the transition from innate to adaptive immunity in resolving inflammation. Their involvement in promoting immune pathology and disease heterogeneity. The physiological mechanisms governing the interpretation of cytokine cues in health and disease. With an interest in the biology of the IL-6 cytokine family, I regularly advise the pharmaceutical sector on cytokine-targeted medicines and have trained healthcare professionals on their clinical use. These interactions have increased my interest in the role of cytokines in health and their involvement in comorbidities commonly associated with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, including depression and fatigue.
Tell us your thoughts about ICIS: how has being involved in the Cytokine Society help your career?
My first association with the Society was in 1997 when I attended the 5th meeting of the International Cytokine Society in Lake Tahoe as a post-doctoral fellow. I have been an active member ever since, chairing Cytokines 2021 in Cardiff (which ended up mostly virtual), and looking forward to chairing Cytokines 2026 in-person in Cardiff! The collegial and welcoming spirit displayed by the society membership remains as strong today as it did then, providing a positive environment for our PhD students, post-doctoral fellows, early-stage career researchers and more established scientists. Interactions with the society membership have significantly benefitted my career and those who have worked with me. Many of my long-standing collaborations have arisen through the annual meetings or introductions made by society members. I firmly believe that the society leadership makes a special effort to encourage and support the next generation of cytokine biologists, and their commitment to early-stage career development is fantastic.
The International Cytokine and Interferon Society was instrumental in my scientific development and allowed me to present research findings early in my career. Through these opportunities, I was awarded the Boltzmann Award for International Collaboration in Cytokine Research (with Professor Stefan Rose-John), and many of my trainees have since received numerous prizes and travel awards from the Society. The ICIS has definitely had a positive influence on my personal and scientific growth, enabling interactions with outstanding scientists and facilitating long-standing collaborations and meaningful friendships that extend beyond research. In this regard, the annual ICIS conference represents a highlight of the year, offering time to reconnect with established colleagues, hear pioneering and exciting discoveries, and form new links with others. I have had numerous discussions with people who have newly attended the annual meeting, and it is inspiring to hear the positive comments about the quality of the science on display and the openness of the researchers contributing to the event. The number of delegates attending the meeting helps with introductions, and the size means there are more opportunities to meet with researchers from across the world and share a friendly word or beer.
Are there any particular friendships or collaborations that came specifically out of Cytokines meetings?
There are too many, and I would be embarrassed to leave anyone out. Several have come to my home, and I have shared hotel rooms with some to save on travel costs. Whenever you meet, you pick up where you left off. These friendships are special and extend beyond science. You realise that if your paths had met through different walks of life, you would still have become close friends. There is something special about that, and it is also great to see relationships developing between the trainees and fellows that pass through our labs.
What Cytokines meeting(s) have been your favorites? Tell us about any special memories or anecdotes.
Several meetings stand out, but I have fond memories of Dublin (2003), Puerto Rico (2004), Turin (2005), Montreal (2008), Lisbon (2009), and more recently Boston (2018), Hawaii (2022) and Athens (2023). The support shown by the society for the virtual meeting in Cardiff (2021) was also very memorable. As one of the organisers, I will always appreciate the commitment and enthusiasm of Kate, Chris, and the other society members who supported the event.
Anecdotes. Ummm !! There are far too many. Many would be lost in translation. You would need to be there. However, I still recall Amsterdam (2001). I had just started my own lab, and our abstract describing the role of IL-6 trans-signalling in the transition from innate to adaptive immunity was selected as an oral presentation in the chemokine session. It was the last talk of the session, and Joe Oppenheim introduced my talk. He began, ‘And finally, we have this talk on IL-6’. He then paused, and as I stood up, Jo looked at me and said, ‘Let’s see what’s new about that old chestnut’. After my talk, Joe was extremely complimentary about our work. The paper remains one of the most highly cited original publications in the field, and when I think about this paper, I fondly recall Joe’s introduction.
What do you like to do when not in the lab?
I play squash 2-3 times a week and attend a yoga class once a week. I am also a keen photographer.
What is the best life/career advice you’ve ever received?
My first piece of advice is to listen to people. Take the time to understand their strengths, needs, aspirations and how these qualities may support your ambitions.
My second relates to words of wisdom passed onto me. As your career develops, demands are increasingly placed on you to perform activities supporting the broader environment within your institution. They are often collegial contributions that can be challenging, time consuming, and usually distracting. When considering these roles, a trusted colleague said, ‘It is important to hold the umbrella, but you should also identify how to pass on the umbrella’.
What book or TV show are you reading/watching right now that you recommend?
My friends and colleagues are always amazed by the type of ‘rubbish’ I watch…. Fast and Furious and Mission Impossible movies. They are far too intellectual for me. At the moment, I am watching Reacher Season 2.
What is your favorite cytokine?
I am interested in cytokines that signal through the Jak-STAT pathway but have a close affinity with IL-6 and its soluble receptor. The range of activities governed by this cytokine is staggering, with advances in the clinical use of biological medicines against IL-6 providing additional opportunities to understand the biology of this cytokine.