Balasubramanian Shankar

Shankar Balasubramanian is a Professor at the University of Cambridge, holding a joint faculty appointment in the Department of Chemistry and the School of Clinical Medicine. He is renowned for pioneering advancements in nucleic acid research, particularly in DNA sequencing technologies and the study of alternative DNA/RNA structures. His work bridges molecular biophysics and chemical biology, focusing on understanding how DNA structure and modifications influence gene regulation and cellular processes, with implications for cancer and degenerative diseases.

His research employs interdisciplinary approaches, from biophysical methods to genomic techniques, targeting G-quadruplex structures and epigenetic modifications. He leads the Balasubramanian Lab at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, developing tools like next-generation sequencing and methods to analyze DNA modifications. Key contributions include the reversible terminator sequencing chemistry, foundational for modern genomic studies.

• Awards: Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, Royal Medal, Millennium Technology Prize, and knighthood for contributions to sequencing.
• Lab Focus: G-quadruplex dynamics, epigenetic regulation, and applications to oncology.
• Collaborations: Joint appointments and cross-disciplinary projects spanning chemistry, medicine, and biotechnology.

His research has driven technological innovations, including DNA sequencing methodologies and tools for studying secondary structures, profoundly impacting biomedical research and clinical applications.