Postgraduate research

Molecular and Cell Biology

Biochemistry

Professor Nicholas Brindle

  • Molecular mechanisms in signal transduction
  • Protein engineering
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Drug discovery

Professor Shaun Cowley

  • Regulation of gene expression via histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes• Embryonic stem (ES) cell differentiation
  • Generation of CRISPR/Cas9 knock-out and knock-In mice
  • Epigenetics of cancer cells

Dr Cyril Dominguez

  • Structural Biology
  • RNA biology
  • Protein-RNA interactions
  • Drug screening

Professor Ian Eperon

  • Mechanisms of RNA splicing
  • Splice site selection and alternative splicing, regulation and role of quadruplexes
  • Single molecule imaging of assembly of splicing complexes
  • Action at a distance on RNA chains: use of modelling and chemical biology 

Professor Bibek Gooptu

  • Misfolding and conformational diseases
  • Structural and biophysical characterisation of disease mechanisms and novel therapeutic strategies
  • Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency and the serpinopathies
  • Ex vivo and in vitro studies of lung and liver disease 

Dr Abhinav Koyamangalath Vadakkepat

  • Structural Biology of large membrane integrated molecular machines
  • Understanding Conjugative Secretion systems in Bacteria
  • Molecular Dissection of Phage defense mechanisms in Bacteria
  • Develop strategies against antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

Professor Salvador Macip

  • Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in ageing and developing strategies to slow down the process
  • Defining novel personalized therapies for B cell malignancies
  • Characterization of the p53 pathway

Dr Olga Makarova

  • Structure determination of splicing-regulatory complexes using electron microscopy
  • Analysis of function and structure of essential splicing factors
  • Evolution of splicing machinery from low to high eukaryotes
  • Splicing as a prognostic tool in cancer

Dr Yolanda Markaki 

  • Quantitative super-resolution imaging of nuclear landscapes 
  • Genome organization and nuclear function
  • Epigenetic regulation of pluripotency and differentiation
  • X-chromosome inactivation and long non-coding RNAs

Professor Peter Moody

  • Enzyme mechanisms
  • developing structural biology techniques
  • neutron crystallography

Dr Helen O'Hare

  • Molecular mechanisms of bacterial sensory perception and signal transduction
  • Role of bacterial serine threonine protein kinases in regulating bacterial physiology
  • Metabolism of Mycobacterium tuberculosis during infection
  • Regulation of gene expression in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Professor Daniel Panne

  • Structural Biology: cryoEM and X-ray crystallography
  • Molecular mechanisms of gene regulation
  • Regulation of higher order chromatin structure and assembly
  • Signalling in the innate immune system

Dr Raj Patel

  • Mammalian cell cycle
  • Mechanism of chromosome segregation
  • The Mitotic checkpoint and apoptosis

Dr Sally Prigent

  • Receptor tyrosine kinases
  • Signalling adaptor/scaffold proteins
  • Regulation of protein complex formation in signalling pathways
  • Mechanisms of cell migration

Dr Thomas Schalch

  • Mechanisms of gene silencing.
  • Structural S. pombe biology.
  • Chromatin higher order structure and function.
  • Macromolecular machines in epigenetics and chromatin

Dr Ralf Schmid

  • Molecular Modelling of P2X Receptors and Ion Channels Evolution of Functional Diversity in Protein Families
  • Functional Annotation of Protein Sequences
  • Alternative Splicing and its Effect on Protein Structure

Professor John Schwabe

  • Structural Biology: X-ray Crystallography, Cryo-Electron Microscopy, NMR Spectroscopy
  • Molecular mechanisms of the regulation of gene expression
  • Investigating the structure and function of large histone deacetylase containing repression complexes
  • Nuclear receptors and their role in metabolism, development and disease

Professor Sue Shackleton

  • The nuclear envelope proteome and its role in human inherited disease
  • Regulation of interaction networks linking the nucleus to the cytoskeleton
  • Mechanisms controlling nuclear positioning during muscle development

Dr Christopher Switzer 

  • Cellular Chemistry
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Mechanisms of Cellular Dysfunction
  • Bioinorganic Chemistry

Dr Kayoko Tanaka

  • Structural and functional studies of microtubule nucleation mechanism
  • Obtaining mechanistic insights into microtubule anchoring matrix
  • Characterising the molecular mode of Ras-mediated Cdc42 activation from a mechanical viewpoint
  • Investigating signal components’ structural arrangements in GPCR-mediated Ras activation

Professor Geerten Vuister

  • Regulation of Ca2+ transport
  • NMR methods development
  • Structure validation
  • Computational tools for Biomolecular NMR

Cancer and Cell Biology

Professor Salvador Macip

  • Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in ageing and developing strategies to slow down the process
  • Defining novel personalized therapies for B cell malignancies
  • Characterization of the p53 pathway

Dr Robert Mahen

  • Centrosome structure and function
  • Molecular mechanisms of cilia function
  • Mechanisms of genomic stability during the cell cycle
  • Live cell imaging of organelle function

Dr Olga Makarova

  • Structure determination of splicing-regulatory complexes using electron microscopy
  • Analysis of function and structure of essential splicing factors
  • Evolution of splicing machinery from low to high eukaryotes
  • Splicing as a prognostic tool in cancer 

Dr Raj Patel

  • Mammalian cell cycle
  • Mechanism of chromosome segregation
  • The Mitotic checkpoint and apoptosis

Dr Sally Prigent

  • Receptor tyrosine kinases
  • Signalling adaptor/scaffold proteins
  • Regulation of protein complex formation in signalling pathways
  • Mechanisms of cell migration

Professor Sue Shackleton

  • The nuclear envelope proteome and its role in human inherited disease
  • Regulation of interaction networks linking the nucleus to the cytoskeleton
  • Mechanisms controlling nuclear positioning during muscle development

Dr Kayoko Tanaka

  • Structural and functional studies of microtubule nucleation mechanism
  • Obtaining mechanistic insights into microtubule anchoring matrix
  • Characterising the molecular mode of Ras-mediated Cdc42 activation from a mechanical viewpoint
  • Investigating signal components’ structural arrangements in GPCR-mediated Ras activation

Dr Christopher Switzer 

  • Cellular Chemistry
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Mechanisms of Cellular Dysfunction
  • Bioinorganic Chemistry

Dr Yolanda Markaki 

  • Quantitative super-resolution imaging of nuclear landscapes 
  • Genome organization and nuclear function
  • Epigenetic regulation of pluripotency and differentiation
  • X-chromosome inactivation and long non-coding RNAs
 

Cell Physiology and Pharmacology

Professor John Challiss

  • G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) molecular pharmacologyRegulating GPCR function in the cardiovascular system
  • Regulating signal transduction in health and disease
  • Understanding the importance of glial cells in CNS regulation

Professor Bibek Gooptu

  • Misfolding and conformational diseases
  • Structural and biophysical characterisation of disease mechanisms and novel therapeutic strategies
  • Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency and the serpinopathies
  • Ex vivo and in vitro studies of lung and liver disease

Dr Robert Mahen

  • Centrosome structure and function
  • Molecular mechanisms of cilia function
  • Mechanisms of genomic stability during the cell cycle
  • Live cell imaging of organelle function

Professor Martyn Mahaut-Smith

  • Signalling in the platelet and its precursor cell
  • Thrombosis, haemostasis and platelet production
  • Calcium signalling through ion channels and G-protein-coupled receptors
  • Specialised membrane invagination systems in cardiomyocytes, platelets and their precursors   

Dr Jonathan Willets

  • G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) molecular pharmacology
  • Regulating GPCR function in the cardiovascular system
  • Regulating signal transduction in health and disease
  • The role of endocannabinoids in reproductive health

Cell Signalling and G Protein-Coupled Receptor Molecular Pharmacology

Professor John Challiss

  • G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) molecular pharmacology
  • Regulating GPCR function in the cardiovascular system
  • Regulating signal transduction in health and disease
  • Understanding the importance of glial cells in CNS regulation

Professor Martyn Mahaut-Smith

  • Signalling in the platelet and its precursor cell
  • Thrombosis, haemostasis and platelet production
  • Calcium signalling through ion channels and G-protein-coupled receptors
  • Specialised membrane invagination systems in cardiomyocytes, platelets and their precursors

Dr Kayoko Tanaka

  • Structural and functional studies of microtubule nucleation mechanism
  • Obtaining mechanistic insights into microtubule anchoring matrix
  • Characterising the molecular mode of Ras-mediated Cdc42 activation from a mechanical viewpoint
  • Investigating signal components’ structural arrangements in GPCR-mediated Ras activation

Dr Jonathan Willets

  • G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) molecular pharmacology
  • Regulating GPCR function in the cardiovascular system
  • Regulating signal transduction in health and disease
  • The role of endocannabinoids in reproductive health

Mechanisms and Principles of Regulation of Gene Expression

Dr Shaun Cowley

  • Regulation of gene expression via histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes
  • Embryonic stem (ES) cell differentiation
  • Generation of CRISPR/Cas9 knock-out and knock-In mice
  • Epigenetics of cancer cells

Cyril Dominguez

  • Structural Biology
  • RNA biology
  • Protein-RNA interactions
  • Drug screening

Professor Ian Eperon

  • Mechanisms of RNA splicing
  • Splice site selection and alternative splicing, regulation and role of quadruplexes
  • Single molecule imaging of assembly of splicing complexes
  • Action at a distance on RNA chains: use of modelling and chemical biology

Dr Olga Makarova

  • Structure determination of splicing-regulatory complexes using electron microscopy
  • Analysis of function and structure of essential splicing factors
  • Evolution of splicing machinery from low to high eukaryotes
  • Splicing as a prognostic tool in cancer

Dr Helen O'Hare

  • Molecular mechanisms of bacterial sensory perception and signal transduction
  • Role of bacterial serine threonine protein kinases in regulating bacterial physiology
  • Metabolism of Mycobacterium tuberculosis during infection
  • Regulation of gene expression in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Professor Daniel Panne

  • Structural Biology: cryoEM and X-ray crystallography
  • Molecular mechanisms of gene regulation
  • Regulation of higher order chromatin structure and assembly
  • Signalling in the innate immune system 

Dr Thomas Schalch

  • Mechanisms of gene silencing.
  • Structural S. pombe biology.
  • Chromatin higher order structure and function.
  • Macromolecular machines in epigenetics and chromatin

Professor John Schwabe

  • Structural Biology: X-ray Crystallography, Cryo-Electron Microscopy, NMR Spectroscopy
  • Molecular mechanisms of the regulation of gene expression
  • Investigating the structure and function of large histone deacetylase containing repression complexes
  • Nuclear receptors and their role in metabolism, development and disease

Dr Michael Tellier

  • Regulation of transcription (initiation, elongation, termination)
  • Mechanisms of RNA splicing and mRNA cleavage and polyadenylation
  • Protein phosphorylation (kinases and phosphatases)
  • OMICS approaches: genomics, transcriptomics, (phospho-)proteomics, bioinformatics

Dr Yolanda Markaki 

  • Quantitative super-resolution imaging of nuclear landscapes 
  • Genome organization and nuclear function
  • Epigenetic regulation of pluripotency and differentiation
  • X-chromosome inactivation and long non-coding RNAs

Molecular Physiology of the Cardiovascular System

Professor Nicholas Brindle

  • Molecular mechanisms in signal transduction
  • Protein engineering
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Drug discovery

Professor John Challiss

  • G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) molecular pharmacology
  • Regulating GPCR function in the cardiovascular system
  • Regulating signal transduction in health and disease
  • Understanding the importance of glial cells in CNS regulation

Professor Martyn Mahaut-Smith

  • Signalling in the platelet and its precursor cell
  • Thrombosis, haemostasis and platelet production
  • Calcium signalling through ion channels and G-protein-coupled receptors
  • Specialised membrane invagination systems in cardiomyocytes, platelets and their precursors

Dr Jonathan Willets

  • G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) molecular pharmacology
  • Regulating GPCR function in the cardiovascular system
  • Regulating signal transduction in health and disease
  • The role of endocannabinoids in reproductive health

Single Molecule Approaches to Understanding Biological Systems

Professor Ian Eperon

  • Mechanisms of RNA splicing
  • Splice site selection and alternative splicing, regulation and role of quadruplexes
  • Single molecule imaging of assembly of splicing complexes
  • Action at a distance on RNA chains: use of modelling and chemical biology

Professor John Schwabe

  • Structural Biology: X-ray Crystallography, Cryo-Electron Microscopy, NMR Spectroscopy
  • Molecular mechanisms of the regulation of gene expression
  • Investigating the structure and function of large histone deacetylase containing repression complexes
  • Nuclear receptors and their role in metabolism, development and disease

Dr Yolanda Markaki

  • Quantitative super-resolution imaging of nuclear landscapes 
  • Genome organization and nuclear function
  • Epigenetic regulation of pluripotency and differentiation
  • X-chromosome inactivation and long non-coding RNAs

Structure Based Drug Discovery and Design

Cyril Dominguez

  • Structural Biology
  • RNA biology
  • Protein-RNA interactions
  • Drug screening

Dr Gareth Hall

  • Structural Biology: X-ray Crystallography, NMR Spectroscopy, and cryoEM
  • Small molecule drug screening and development
  • Antibody-assisted drug discovery
  • Antibody engineering

 Dr Abhinav Koyamangalath Vadakkepat

  • Structural Biology of large membrane integrated molecular machines
  • Understanding Conjugative Secretion systems in Bacteria
  • Molecular Dissection of Phage defense mechanisms in Bacteria
  • Develop strategies against antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

Professor John Schwabe

  • Structural Biology: X-ray Crystallography, Cryo-Electron Microscopy, NMR Spectroscopy
  • Molecular mechanisms of the regulation of gene expression
  • Investigating the structure and function of large histone deacetylase containing repression complexes
  • Nuclear receptors and their role in metabolism, development and disease

Professor Geerten Vuister

  • Regulation of Ca2+ transport
  • NMR methods development
  • Structure validation
  • Computational tools for Biomolecular NMR

Structure, Dynamics and Assembly of Macromolecular Complexes

Dr Shaun Cowley

  • Regulation of gene expression via histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes
  • Embryonic stem (ES) cell differentiation
  • Generation of CRISPR/Cas9 knock-out and knock-In mice
  • Epigenetics of cancer cells

Cyril Dominguez

  • Structural Biology
  • RNA biology
  • Protein-RNA interactions
  • Drug screening

Professor Ian Eperon

  • Mechanisms of RNA splicing
  • Splice site selection and alternative splicing, regulation and role of quadruplexes
  • Single molecule imaging of assembly of splicing complexes
  • Action at a distance on RNA chains: use of modelling and chemical biology

Professor Bibek Gooptu

  • Misfolding and conformational diseases
  • Structural and biophysical characterisation of disease mechanisms and novel therapeutic strategies
  • Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency and the serpinopathies
  • Ex vivo and in vitro studies of lung and liver disease

Dr Abhinav Koyamangalath Vadakkepat

  • Structural Biology of large membrane integrated molecular machines
  • Understanding Conjugative Secretion systems in Bacteria
  • Molecular Dissection of Phage defense mechanisms in Bacteria
  • Develop strategies against antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

Dr Robert Mahen

  • Centrosome structure and function
  • Molecular mechanisms of cilia function
  • Mechanisms of genomic stability during the cell cycle
  • Live cell imaging of organelle function

Dr Olga Makarova

  • Structure determination of splicing-regulatory complexes using electron microscopy
  • Analysis of function and structure of essential splicing factors
  • Evolution of splicing machinery from low to high eukaryotes
  • Splicing as a prognostic tool in cancer

Dr Yolanda Markaki

  • Quantitative super-resolution imaging of nuclear landscapes 
  • Genome organization and nuclear function
  • Epigenetic regulation of pluripotency and differentiation
  • X-chromosome inactivation and long non-coding RNAs

Professor Peter Moody

  • Enzyme mechanisms
  • Developing structural biology techniques
  • Neutron crystallography

Dr Helen O'Hare

  • Bacterial sensory perception and signal transduction (structural biology and molecular approaches)
  • Regulation of bacterial metabolism (Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Professor Daniel Panne

  • Structural Biology: cryoEM and X-ray crystallography
  • Molecular mechanisms of gene regulation
  • Regulation of higher order chromatin structure and assembly
  • Signalling in the innate immune system

Dr Thomas Schalch

  • Mechanisms of gene silencing
  • Structural S. pombe biology
  • Chromatin higher order structure and function
  • Macromolecular machines in epigenetics and chromatin

Dr Ralf Schmid

  • Molecular Modelling of P2X Receptors and Ion Channels Evolution of Functional Diversity in Protein Families
  • Functional Annotation of Protein Sequences
  • Alternative Splicing and its Effect on Protein Structure

Professor John Schwabe

  • Structural Biology: X-ray Crystallography, Cryo-Electron Microscopy, NMR Spectroscopy
  • Molecular mechanisms of the regulation of gene expression
  • Investigating the structure and function of large histone deacetylase containing repression complexes
  • Nuclear receptors and their role in metabolism, development and disease

Professor Sue Shackleton

  • The nuclear envelope proteome and its role in human inherited disease
  • Regulation of interaction networks linking the nucleus to the cytoskeleton
  • Mechanisms controlling nuclear positioning during muscle development

Dr Kayoko Tanaka

  • Structural and functional studies of microtubule nucleation mechanism
  • Obtaining mechanistic insights into microtubule anchoring matrix
  • Characterising the molecular mode of Ras-mediated Cdc42 activation from a mechanical viewpoint
  • Investigating signal components’ structural arrangements in GPCR-mediated Ras activation

Professor Geerten Vuister

  • Regulation of Ca2+ transport
  • NMR methods development
  • Structure validation
  • Computational tools for Biomolecular NMR

Structure-Function Relationships in Ion Channels and Receptors

Professor Nicholas Brindle

  • Molecular mechanisms in signal transduction
  • Protein engineering
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Drug discovery

Professor Bibek Gooptu

  • Misfolding and conformational diseases
  • Structural and biophysical characterisation of disease mechanisms and novel therapeutic strategies
  • Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency and the serpinopathies
  • Ex vivo and in vitro studies of lung and liver disease

Dr Abhinav Koyamangalath Vadakkepat

  • Structural Biology of large membrane integrated molecular machines
  • Understanding Conjugative Secretion systems in Bacteria
  • Molecular Dissection of Phage defense mechanisms in Bacteria
  • Develop strategies against antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

Professor Martyn Mahaut-Smith

  • Signalling in the platelet and its precursor cell
  • Thrombosis, haemostasis and platelet production
  • Calcium signalling through ion channels and G-protein-coupled receptors
  • Specialised membrane invagination systems in cardiomyocytes, platelets and their precursors 

Dr Ralf Schmid

  • Molecular Modelling of P2X Receptors and Ion Channels Evolution of Functional Diversity in Protein Families
  • Functional Annotation of Protein Sequences
  • Alternative Splicing and its Effect on Protein Structure 

Professor Geerten Vuister

  • Regulation of Ca2+ transport
  • NMR methods development
  • Structure validation
  • Computational tools for Biomolecular NMR

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