Dr Robert Turnbull

As a member of Professor John Schwabe's group, my research centres on exploring the role of class 1 HDAC complexes in epigenetic gene regulation. I use a variety of cell and molecular biology techniques, alongside next-generation sequencing approaches - including RNA-seq, qPRO-seq, ATAC-seq, and ChIP-seq/CUT&RUN/CUT&TAG - to unravel the molecular mechanism underlying these complexes. My primary research interests lie in understanding the role of the mitotic deacetylase complex (MiDAC) and CoREST complex in disease processes. I completed my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at the University of Leeds. Following this, I moved to Leicester to undertake a PhD in the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences under the supervision of Professor Alison Goodall. My doctoral research investigated how platelet activation influences monocyte gene expression in the context of thrombosis. From 2022 to 2025 I served as president of the Postdoctoral and Research Staff Association, where I coordinated two University-wide interdisciplinary research conferences, including a collaborative event with the University of Warwick. I have also represented early career researchers on both college and departmental committees, and have actively contributed to departmental Equality, Diversion and inclusion (EDI) initiatives.

Turnbull, R. E., Hafeez, A., Sander, K. N., Barrett, D. A., Murphy, G. J., Goodall, A. H. (2024). Unfractionated heparin reverses aspirin inhibition of platelets during coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Sci Rep 14(1): 8572.

Turnbull, R. E., Sander, K. N., Turnbull, N., Barrett, D. A., Goodall, A. H. (2022) Profiling oxylipins released from human platelets activated through the GPVI collagen receptor. Prostaglandins & Other Lipid Mediators 158, 106607

Turnbull, R., Fairall, L., Saleh, A., Kesall, E., Morris, K., Ragan, T., Savva, C., Chandru, A., Millard, C., Makarvova, O., Smith, C., Rosemann, A., Fry, A., Cowley, S., Schwabe, J.W.R. (2020) The MiDAC histone deacetylase complex is essential for embryonic development and has a unique multivalent structure. Nature Communications 11, 3252