معرفی
Professor Colin A. Johnson holds the position of Professor of Medical & Molecular Genetics at the University of Leeds, where he has been since 2006 (promoted to Professor in 2010). Previously, he worked at the University of Birmingham (1996–2006) as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Lecturer, and Senior Lecturer in Medical Genetics. His expertise spans rare genetic disorders, ciliopathies, and advanced imaging techniques. He leads research in gene discovery, high-content imaging, and transcriptomics, supported by the University of Leeds' bioimaging and bioinformatics infrastructure. His work includes collaborations with the Vision Research Group and the use of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing and iPSC-derived retinal cells.
- Education: PhD in Biochemistry (University of Glasgow, 1995); BA in Biochemistry (Queen's College, University of Oxford, 1992).
Research interests focus on two core areas: (1) identifying genes for rare disorders, with over 60 new disease genes discovered since 2011 via the Sir Jules Thorn Award, and (2) investigating ciliopathies, particularly the role of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in cilium formation. His studies in Nature Cell Biology have advanced understanding of cilium structure-function relationships. Future work emphasizes super-resolution microscopy using Affimers and CRISPR-Cas9 to explore ciliary pathways.
Awards & Recognition: Recipient of the Sir Jules Thorn Award for Biomedical Research (2011), enabling translational research, patient benefits, and early-career training. Active in professional roles, including editorial board membership for Cilia and Wellcome Trust grant committee membership.
Advising & Grants: Supervises postgraduate researchers like Alice V. R. Lake. Research is supported by interdisciplinary collaborations and infrastructure at the Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's and the Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre.
Labs/Teams: Integrates with the Vision Research Group and leverages University of Leeds facilities for advanced imaging and bioinformatics.
