How a Single List Is Changing Visibility for Women in Science

Interview conducted by Lauren HardakerFeb 11 2026

Thought LeaderCristina Legido-QuigleyReader in Systems MedicineKing’s College London

In this interview, AZoLifeSciences speaks with Cristina Legido-Quigley, Reader in Systems Medicine at King’s College London and founder of BrainLogia, who discusses advancing women’s representation and recognition in science. She explains how structural invisibility affects careers in STEM and why proactive action is needed to change it.

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Can you please introduce yourself and explain your work to someone outside of your field?

I am a Reader in Systems Medicine at King’s College London, and I am also affiliated with the Steno Diabetes Center in Copenhagen, where I previously led the department. I run a lab focused on understanding how metabolism affects brain health.

I tend to see the body as millions of molecules networking non-stop. I am particularly interested in lipids, or fats, and how changes in these molecules might explain why some people develop Alzheimer’s disease, especially those with metabolic disease. We use mass spectrometry to measure thousands of molecules in blood and tissue samples, then look for patterns that connect metabolic changes to brain health. It is detective work at the molecular level.

You have described many women in lipidomics and metabolomics as "brilliant but invisible." How does that invisibility actually show up in practice?

It shows up very clearly in who gets opportunities. Many women still have to work twice as hard to build a reputation in STEM. That invisibility translates into fewer opportunities, fewer jobs, slower career progression, pay gaps, and fewer leadership roles. 

The current political climate does not help. I listened to an hour-long speech at Davos where multiple men were mentioned by name, while women were either unnamed or referred to dismissively. When leaders normalize that behavior, imagine what happens in STEM. In many ways, we are going backwards.

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You created an editable list of women in lipidomics, metabolomics, and data science. Why was building a shared resource more important to you?

Yes, thanks for asking about it. I wanted to make it very easy for people to find women experts when organizing conferences, boards, or grant consortia. No more “we could not find any women.”

The list is a shared Google document, and many people have told me they have already used it. Hearing that has been incredibly rewarding.

The list now includes nearly 400 women across more than 40 countries. What surprised you most about the response?

First, how widely it spread. One post alone was seen by around 15,000 people. Many women added themselves or nominated colleagues.

Second, how many men reached out to say they were actively using the list to diversify their panels. That was genuinely encouraging.

You founded BrainLogia alongside your academic career. What motivated you to do that, and what freedoms has it given you?

BrainLogia allows me to work directly with institutions, take on advisory roles, and use my expertise in different ways. It fits very well alongside academic work.

It is important to design a career around your strengths, and sometimes to try different paths. Many people now move between academia and industry, and academia is becoming more flexible, which is a positive change.

In large, interdisciplinary projects, how can institutions ensure women, particularly early-career researchers, receive visible credit?

Authorship discussions must be clear from the beginning. There should be a written agreement outlining who is leading which part of a project and what that means for authorship.

I have been in meetings where middle authorship was used to argue that someone did not deserve a Nobel Prize. I am not joking. This is a modern version of the Matilda effect. Women need to secure proper credit early in their careers.

Institutions can help by supporting visibility, training early-career researchers, and promoting co-leadership. Companies and universities can be great at supporting women scientists; it’s quite obvious to women which institutions are genuinely supportive.

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Your lipidomics research shows clear biological differences between women and men in Alzheimer's disease. Why has sex-specific biology been underexplored?

Women make up around two-thirds of Alzheimer’s patients, yet we are only now beginning to understand why. By ignoring sex-specific biology, we have likely missed therapeutic targets that could work specifically for women.

I am hopeful that we will soon develop drugs and prevention strategies that properly take women’s biology into account.

How does a lack of diversity in study populations limit our understanding of biological processes?

Different populations have different genetic backgrounds, environmental exposures, diets, and lifestyles. If we do not study this variation, we design diagnostic tools and therapies that may not work for everyone. Missing biological diversity limits science and harms patients.

What advice would you give early-career women in omics who hesitate to self-promote?

Advice I was given recently really stayed with me: “It is not about you or me.”

Think about the women and girls in STEM who are watching. They need role models and support. That mindset removes the discomfort from self-promotion.

What would you say to a young woman who loves science but also art, writing, or philosophy?

I'd say those 'other' interests aren't a distraction; they're an asset. They help you think differently and generate original ideas. You're more likely to have out-of-the-box ideas.

STEM is a very big field, and originality is one of the most precious skills you can bring to it.

Where Can Readers Find More Information?

• Webpage and link to list women in metabolomics/lipidomics and data science

• For those interested in mass spectrometry and clinical applications: ww.clime.dk

• Linkedin “Cristina Legido-Quigley”

About the Researcher

Cristina Legido-Quigley is a Reader in Systems Medicine at King’s College London and a leading expert in lipidomics, metabolomics, and Alzheimer’s disease research. Her work focuses on understanding how metabolic dysfunction and lipid signaling influence brain health, with particular emphasis on sex-specific biology and women’s increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

She previously held a leadership role at the Steno Diabetes Center in Copenhagen and has built a highly collaborative research program integrating mass spectrometry, systems biology, and clinical cohorts. Cristina is also the founder of BrainLogia, an independent platform that enables scientific advisory work and cross-sector collaboration.

Beyond her research, she is a strong advocate for visibility and equity for women in STEM and is the creator of a widely used global directory of women experts in lipidomics, metabolomics, and data science.