Fraydoon Rastinejad

Professor Fraydoon Rastinejad is a Professor of Biochemistry and Structural Biology at the University of Oxford's Nuffield Department of Medicine and Target Discovery Institute. He holds a Nicholas Kurti Senior Research Fellowship at Brasenose College. With a BA from Northwestern University and a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, his academic career includes roles as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Yale, faculty positions at the University of Virginia, and leadership at Sanford Burnham Preby Medical Discovery Institute. His research focuses on transcription factors, particularly nuclear receptors and bHLH-PAS proteins, exploring ligand interactions and structural mechanisms. Notable contributions include studies on hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR), and retinoid receptors. Key honors include the Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator Award. His work bridges structural biology with chemical and molecular biology to uncover mechanisms of transcriptional control and drug discovery.

Education:

• BA in Mathematics and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Northwestern University
• PhD in Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania

Research Interests: Investigating how transcription factors like HIFs and nuclear receptors regulate gene expression through ligand binding and structural changes. Key areas include:

• Structural characterization of bHLH-PAS proteins
• Ligand discovery for transcription factors
• Mechanisms of allosteric communication in nuclear receptors
• Role of endogenous ligands in HIF signaling
• Pharmacological modulation of HIF-α subunits

Recent Work Trends: Recent publications highlight advances in understanding HIF-3α regulation by endogenous ligands, circadian rhythm modulation via BMAL1, and the role of bile acid metabolites in immune cell differentiation. Structural biology and chemical screening are central to his approach.

Awards:

• Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator (2018–present)
• Nicholas Kurti Senior Research Fellowship (Brasenose College)

Grants and Advising: Leads a research team at the Target Discovery Institute, focusing on translational research linking structural insights to drug development. Active in mentoring students/postdocs in structural biology and molecular pharmacology.

Labs/Teams: Heads the Rastinejad Lab, collaborating with institutions globally to advance understanding of transcriptional control mechanisms in health and disease.