Simon Rayner

Simon Rayner is a Professor II in the Department of Medical Genetics at the University of Oslo (UiO), affiliated with Oslo University Hospital (OUS). He leads research in bioinformatics with a focus on mining and visualizing big data in medical genetics, particularly in viral genomics and non-coding RNA. His work bridges computational biology and clinical virology, with strong international collaborations, especially in China.

• University of Oslo, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Genetics
• Oslo University Hospital (OUS)

Rayner’s research interests center on bioinformatics, viral evolution, and next-generation sequencing (NGS). He develops algorithms for analyzing whole genome, exome, RNA-seq, and small RNA datasets, with a focus on understanding the role of non-coding RNAs in disease. His work spans rabies, hepatitis B, HIV, Japanese encephalitis, Ebola, and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), integrating molecular evolution with functional genomics.

His recent publications reveal a strong trend in viral phylogenetics, microRNA prediction (e.g., miRPara, BlastGraph), and host-pathogen interactions. He frequently applies systems biology and network pharmacology to understand disease mechanisms and drug responses. His work emphasizes data integration, reproducibility, and open science, including decentralized data sharing platforms.

Scientific contributions include the development of tools like BlastGraph and miRPara, and extensive work on rabies phylodynamics, HCMV infection in neural cells, and microRNA regulation in cancer. His research has informed public health strategies in China, particularly in rabies control.

Rayner has advised numerous PhD and postdoctoral researchers, especially during his tenure at the Wuhan Institute of Virology and Chinese Agricultural University. His work has been supported by major research grants from Chinese and Norwegian institutions, though specific grant names are not listed. He has co-founded BioAutomation Inc., contributing to RNA/DNA synthesis technology.

His research is conducted within the Research Section of the Department of Medical Genetics at OUS, collaborating with virology and genomics teams. He is part of a broader network focused on infectious disease genomics and bioinformatics tool development.