Lucia Sereni, PhD

What’s the most important leadership lesson you’ve learned?

Build with people, not around them. The best science—and the strongest teams—happen when everyone feels ownership and support.

What do you consider to be your most important career achievement or milestone?

Contributing to the development of gene therapy for Wiskot-Aldrich syndrome that ultimately received European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. Being part of a program that translated from bench to bedside—and became one of the first non-profit–developed gene therapies to reach commercialization—was profoundly meaningful.

What do you aspire to accomplish in your career and why? What obstacles will you overcome?

I want to develop next-generation gene and immune-engineering therapies that are not only scientifically innovative but also scalable, accessible, and impactful for patients. Ideally, I would transition into industry, where I can work at the interface of discovery, development, and translation to accelerate therapies from proof-of-concept to real-world application. Anticipated obstacles include navigating the transition from academia to industry, adapting to different operational and decision-making frameworks, and balancing leadership growth with family life. I see these as growth opportunities—requiring skill development, resilience, and the courage to step into new ecosystems while staying grounded in scientific rigor and purpose.

Describe an amazing opportunity in your STEM career.

Joining a brand-new lab in Boston and helping build it from scratch—establishing infrastructure, mentoring trainees, designing research programs, and shaping culture. It was both scientifically challenging and deeply formative as a leader.

How was AWIS helped you professionally and/or personally?

AWIS has given me a community, visibility, and opportunities for leadership development. It connected me with women navigating similar transitions—across academia, industry, and entrepreneurship—and reinforced the importance of advocacy, mentorship, and supporting women in STEM.

What is your favorite word? (only one word)

Respect.

How do you define it?

Respect is the conscious recognition of the inherent value, expertise, time, and dignity of others. It means listening before speaking, leading with integrity, and creating space where diverse perspectives are genuinely welcomed and empowered.

How has this word influenced or inspired your career?

Respect guides how I lead, collaborate, and mentor. It helps me value every voice at the table—from trainees to clinicians to cross-functional partners—and build environments where people feel seen, heard, and empowered. In translational science, respect also means honoring the responsibility we carry toward patients and their families. It keeps my work grounded in humility, rigor, and purpose.

How does AWIS impact your career journey?

AWIS gives me a vital community of women in STEM, which is especially important while women are still treated differently and often less favorably than men. Being part of this network offers mentorship, support, and shared strategies for navigating challenges. It inspires me to advocate for equity, amplify diverse voices, and lead with integrity and empathy.

What are you currently reading or listening to?

I’m a true crime fan and enjoy a variety of podcasts on that topic as well as historical events. I’m currently reading The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll.

What do you consider the best professional or personal advice you’ve ever received?

Always look to who is doing better than you—you’ll learn a lot.

Lucia Sereni, PhD, is an immunologist with extensive expertise in gene therapy and genome engineering. She earned her PhD at the Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy in the lab of Prof. Villa, studying Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome and contributing to a gene therapy that received European Medicines Agency and U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval. In 2019, Lucia moved to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and later Boston Children’s Hospital to develop personalized and B cell–engineered therapies for solid tumors.