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., Gonchar, O., English, D. E., Wright, T. A., Baker, I. M., Sirvydis, K., Cowley, S. M., Schwabe J. W. R. (2025). Rapid degradation of 6 class I HDAC complexes reveals minimal functional overlap between complexes. BioRxiv (Nucleic Acids Research; under revision)

Fairall, L.*, Sirvydis, K.*, Turnbull, R. E.*, Knottnerus, S. J.*, Gonchar, O., Muskett, F. W., Jukes-Jones, R., van Brussel, L.,van de Geer, E., van Gassen, K., Badenhorst, P., Johnson, D., Terhal, P. A., van Hasselt, P. M., van Jaarsveld, R. H., Schwabe, J. W. R. (2025). A de novo missense variant in MIDEAS results in increased deacetylase activity of the MiDAC HDAC complex causing a neurodevelopmental syndrome. Nature Communications 16, 10472

Richardson, E. L., Knebel, A., Straatman, K. R., Gourlay, R., Lamont, D., Hardy, T., Turnbull, R. E., Robinson, S. W., O’Regan, L., Bayliss, R., Fry, A. M. (2025). NEK7 phosphorylation of cortactin modulates the migratory capacity of cells expressing EML4-ALK V3. BioRxiv (Scientific Reports; Accepted)

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. E., Fairall, L., Saleh, A., Kesall, E., Morris, K. L., Ragan, T. J., Savva, C. G., Chandru, A., Millard, C. J., Makarvova, O. V., Smith, C. J., Rosemann, A. M., Fry, A. M., Cowley, S. M., 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

2022 - Wellcome Trust ISSF Research Culture Improvement Call (£3000)

2022 - Leicester Institute for Advanced Studies (£3000)

2015 - Biochemical Society Travel Bursary (£425)

2015 - ISTH Young Investigator Award (CAD $750)

2015 - Awards for posters judged to be in top 20% submitted to ISTH

2015 - BSHT Travel Bursary (£1000)

2013 - BSHT Travel Bursary (£750)

2013 - Selected Chair for East Midlands Universities Conference

2013 - Selected poster moderator at ISTH conference

2008 – 2011 - 1st Year Organon Laboratories, 2nd Year Biochemistry and 3rd Year Frank Happold prizes for Biochemistry (University of Leeds)

2008 – 2009 - Biological Sciences Academic Scholarship (£500e/y) (University of Leeds)

2025 - Birmingham Centre for Genome Biology Conference, Birmingham. Talk: Rapid degradation of 6 class 1 HDAC complexes reveals minimal functional overlap between complexes.

2017 - Midlands Cell Cycle and Cytoskeleton Club, Nottingham. Poster: A role for the novel class 1 HDAC complex MiDAC in chromosome alignment.

2015 - UK Platelet meeting, Leicester. Talk: Identification of low molecular weight factor released from platelets that induce procr in monocytes.

2015 - International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Toronto. Poster: Activated platelets regulate monocyte tfpi gene expression through the nuclear transcription factor PPARγ.

2015 - International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Toronto. Poster: Identification of low molecular weight factor released from platelets that induce procr in monocytes.

2015 - International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Toronto. Poster: Profiling oxylipins released by GPVI-activated platelets and the effect of inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-1 and 12-lipoxygenase.

2014 - British Atherosclerosis Society conference, Cambridge. Poster: Platelet Eicosanoids Released from Platelets Activated through GPVI and the Effect of Aspirin.

2013 - International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Amsterdam. Poster: Aspirin inhibits the platelet-mediated expression of antithrombotic genes in monocytes.

2013 - International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Amsterdam. Poster: Monocytes contribution to mass and stability through gene expression.

2012 - British Society for Haemostasis and Thrombosis, Bath. Talk: Aspirin inhibits the platelet-mediated expression of anti-thrombotic genes in monocytes.

Season ticket holder at Leicester City FC 

Member of Ketton Blacks mens football team

Coach of Ketton U8 Blacks Junior football team

2011 – 2015: PhD - Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester. Thesis title: Regulation of monocyte anti-thrombotic gene and protein expression by platelets. Supervisors: Prof Alison Goodall, Prof John Schwabe.

2008 – 2011: B.Sc. Biochemistry, University of Leeds. First-Class Honours. Tutor: Prof Peter Henderson. Project: Differential proteolytic cleavage of the alternative isoforms of the amyloid precursor protein. Supervisor: Prof Nigel Hooper.

2001 – 2008: Stamford Endowed Schools. A levels: Chemistry (A), Biology (A), Geography (A)