Maddy Parsons is Professor of Cell Biology at King’s College London. Her international leadership in multidisciplinary research with clinicians, physicists, engineers and computational scientists has shifted paradigms in understanding fundamental disease mechanisms. Her pioneering biophysical approaches have revealed how organisation of receptors and cytoskeletal proteins control cell adhesion, migration and proliferation in cancer, fibrosis, skin blistering and lung inflammation. She founded and directs the Nikon Imaging and Microscopy Innovation Centres, enabling open access to advanced microscopes for biomedical researchers and driving recognition and career paths for technical staff. She also leads BioimagingUK, co-ordinating community-led strategy for funding agencies, early career researcher mentorship and promotion of women and underrepresented communities in STEM.