Justin Rochford

Professor Justin Rochford is a Personal Chair at the University of Aberdeen, where he leads a research team at the Rowett Institute examining the effects of fat tissue on health. He is affiliated with the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition and is a member of the Aberdeen Cardiovascular and Diabetes Centre.

His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms controlling adipocyte differentiation and functions of mature fat cells. Professor Rochford's laboratory is particularly renowned for contributions to understanding lipodystrophy - a rare condition where fat tissue dysfunction leads to severe metabolic diseases. His work investigates how poor fat tissue function contributes to type 2 diabetes, liver disease, vascular disease, and cancers.

Professor Rochford's research examines lipodystrophy genes as critical regulators of human fat development, with particular focus on seipin (encoded by BSCL2). His laboratory employs techniques including immunofluorescence/confocal microscopy, transcriptional and protein analyses, binding studies, proteomics, and lipidomics to investigate adipocyte development and function.

His publications reveal strong trends in lipodystrophy research, adipose tissue biology, metabolic disease mechanisms, and development of novel therapeutic approaches including gene therapy. The work spans from basic molecular mechanisms to preclinical therapeutic development, with significant implications for both rare lipodystrophies and common obesity-related conditions.

• Executive Board Member of European Consortium for the Study of Lipodystrophies (ECLip)
• Editorial Board, Cells
• Editorial Board, Frontiers in Endocrinology
• Grants Panel Member for Diabetes UK
• Member of Diabetes UK, Biochemical Society, and Society for Endocrinology
• Co-led Rowett Institute's Athena SWAN bronze award application (2016)
• Member of School Biological Safety Committee
• Member of Senate representing School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition

Professor Rochford has secured significant research funding from BBSRC, Diabetes UK, EFSD, Wellcome Trust, and MRC. His current projects include investigating seipin's roles in lipid storage, developing novel imaging methods and gene therapies for diabetes, and studying neuropeptide Y's control of hunger and body fat. His teaching responsibilities include Nutrition, Obesity and Metabolic Health, Molecular Control of Cell Function, and Research Skills for Medical Sciences.

The Rochford lab maintains active collaborations with researchers across Europe and internationally through the European Consortium of Lipodystrophies, with regular meetings documented in conference proceedings. The lab also works closely with Lipodystrophy UK and patient advocacy groups to ensure research addresses clinical needs.