Alfredo Castello

Professor Alfredo Castello is a Professor in Systems Virology at the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research within the Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation at the University of Glasgow's College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences. With an active research program and numerous recent publications, he leads the Castello Lab which focuses on understanding RNA-binding proteins in virus infection.

Castello's research interests center around the critical role of cellular RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) in viral infections. His work reveals how viruses exploit host RBPs for replication while cells utilize RBPs as part of their antiviral defense. His lab employs innovative approaches to discover cellular proteins that interact with viral RNA during infection, combining cell and molecular biology, RNA biology, virology, and 'omic' technologies to understand host-virus interactions at a systems level.

Analysis of Castello's recent publications shows a strong focus on RNA-protein interactions in viral infections across multiple viral systems including alphaviruses, HIV-1, SARS-CoV-2, and other RNA viruses. His work spans from fundamental RNA biology to translational applications, with particular emphasis on identifying host factors that could serve as targets for broad-spectrum antivirals.

• ERC consolidator Grant: Towards the discovery of cellular RNA-binding proteins with master regulatory roles in virus infection (2021-2026)
• MRC Career Development Award: Proteome-Wide Identification of RNA-Binding Proteins Playing Critical Roles in Virus Infection (2021-2022)
• Marie Curie postdoctoral fellowship: Structural basis of TRIM25 and RIPLET mediated antiviral response (2023)

Castello actively supervises multiple PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in the Castello Lab, including Rozeena Arif, Namah Raut, Innes Jarmson, and others. His research group receives substantial funding through multiple grants including RBP-ReguNet (2023-2027) and Understanding the Roles of Cellular RNA-Binding Proteins in HIV-1 Infection (2023). The lab maintains active collaborations both within the University of Glasgow and with external institutions worldwide.

The Castello Lab operates as a multidisciplinary research unit combining expertise in molecular virology, cellular biology, RNA biology, and computational approaches. The group has developed innovative methods for identifying RNA-binding proteins in cells, representing significant breakthroughs in understanding protein-RNA interactions during viral infection.