Azim Surani

Professor Azim Surani is a distinguished academic at the University of Cambridge, serving as Director of Germline and Epigenetics Research and a Wellcome Senior Investigator within the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience in the School of the Biological Sciences. With a career spanning decades, Professor Surani has made groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of early human development and epigenetic regulation.

His research focuses on genomic imprinting, primordial germ cell specification, and epigenetic reprogramming in the germline. Professor Surani's work has established fundamental principles of early human development, including the discovery that SOX17 is the key regulator of human germ cell fate, which differs from the mouse model where BLIMP1-PRDM14 plays this role. His laboratory uses cutting-edge approaches including single-cell analysis, high-resolution imaging, gene editing, and bioinformatics to study early human preimplantation embryos, fetal development, germ cells, and developing gonads.

Professor Surani's research has revealed important mechanisms of epigenetic resetting in the germline, including DNA methylation erasure (except for some resistant loci), X-reactivation, and imprint erasure followed by re-establishment of sperm- and oocyte-specific imprints. His findings on mitochondrial DNA selection in primordial germ cells have implications for understanding inherited mitochondrial disorders.

His scientific achievements have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards including the Canada Gairdner International Award, Royal Medal from the Royal Society, McEwen Award for Innovation from the International Society for Stem Cell Research, and the Mendel Medal from the Genetics Society. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society and the Academy of Medical Sciences, and was appointed Commander of the British Empire for services to biology.

Professor Surani leads an active research group comprising scientists working on various aspects of germline development and epigenetics. His laboratory has developed in vitro models for early human and germline development, including germinoids to explore synthetic gamete formation. His work continues to advance our understanding of human development, with implications for regenerative medicine and understanding developmental disorders.