Ana O'Loghlen

Dr. Ana O'Loghlen is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Genomics and Child Health within the Blizard Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London. She leads the Epigenetics & Cellular Senescence research group, focusing on the mechanisms of cellular senescence and its role in cancer and aging.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Complutense University Madrid (2005)
• BSc in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Complutense University Madrid (2001)

Dr. O'Loghlen's research centers on cellular senescence, a stable cell cycle arrest that plays critical roles in cancer, aging, and development. Her lab investigates how senescent cells communicate with their microenvironment via the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) and extracellular vesicles. Key areas include the role of Polycomb Group Proteins, microRNAs, and integrin signaling in regulating senescence and its escape in cancer progression.

Her recent publications (2012-2020) highlight a strong focus on the molecular mechanisms of senescence, particularly the contribution of small extracellular vesicles and the SASP to tissue damage in aging. The work spans from basic mechanisms in stem cell differentiation to translational studies in cancer and aging, with a consistent emphasis on epigenetic regulation and intercellular communication.

Dr. O'Loghlen supervises PhD students, with Lewis Woodward being one of her current advisees. She actively recruits new students and postdoctoral fellows, welcoming self-funded PhD candidates.

Her research is funded by:

• Medical Research Council (MRC)
• Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
• The Royal Society
• Barts and The London Charity

She supports applications for external fellowships such as EMBO and Marie Curie for exceptional candidates.

The Epigenetics & Cellular Senescence Group, led by Dr. O'Loghlen, utilizes advanced techniques including CRISPR/Cas9, RNAi, and small molecule inhibitor screens to uncover novel regulators of senescence. The lab collaborates extensively and has identified key players such as CXCR2, ITGB3, and microRNAs in senescence pathways.