Benjamin Blencowe

Benjamin Blencowe is a Professor of RNA Biology and Genomics at King’s College London (part-time) and the University of Toronto, where he holds the Banbury Chair in Medical Research. He leads the Blencowe Lab at the Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research and is affiliated with the Francis Crick Institute. His research focuses on RNA-directed mechanisms in gene expression, particularly alternative splicing in neurodevelopment and its role in disorders like autism and Alzheimer’s. Key collaborations include projects with Professors Jernej Ule and Sabine Cordes, funded by the Wellcome Trust and others. Recent achievements include developing dCasRx-RBM25 for exon splicing control and identifying eIF4G microexons linked to synaptic dysfunction in autism. Blencowe has been recognized with prestigious fellowships and awards, including Fellowship of the Royal Society (2019) and the Academy of Medical Sciences (2025).

• Key Roles: Director of the Donnelly Sequencing Centre, Co-PI of Wellcome Discovery Award projects
• Research Themes: RNA regulation, neurodevelopmental disorders, gene therapy, CRISPR technologies

His part-time role at King’s facilitates transatlantic collaboration, combining expertise from Toronto and London to advance therapeutic strategies for brain disorders.