Gernot Walko

Gernot Walko is a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Life Sciences at Queen Mary University of London, where he joined in October 2022 as Senior Lecturer in Squamous Cell Carcinogenesis. He is affiliated with the Centre for Oral Immunobiology and Regenerative Medicine and the Bart's Centre for Squamous Cancer. He maintains an honorary appointment at the University of Bath, where he was Principal Investigator from 2018 to 2022. His research focuses on epidermal stem cells and their role in skin regeneration and cancer.

• Doctor rerum naturalium (PhD), Molecular Biology, University of Vienna, 2008
• Master of Natural Science, Microbiology, University of Vienna, 2002

Dr. Walko's research interests include epidermal stem cell self-renewal, long-term ex vivo culture of keratinocytes, the Hippo/YAP/TAZ signalling pathway, and the molecular basis of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. He employs multi-omics, genetic manipulation, and 3D cell culture models, including zebrafish xenografts, to dissect mechanisms of stemness and tumorigenesis. His work bridges regenerative medicine and cancer biology, with implications for therapy development.

His recent publications highlight a strong focus on YAP/TAZ regulation in skin cancer, stem cell differentiation via topographical cues, and Notch signalling in epidermal homeostasis. Articles span high-impact journals in dermatology, cell biology, and biomaterials, indicating interdisciplinary contributions to understanding skin biology and disease mechanisms.

Scientific Awards:

• Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship
• Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Dr. Walko actively supervises PhD students and postdocs, including Alexander Howard and Jodie Bojko. He has secured multiple research grants as Principal Investigator from major funders such as the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), The Royal Society, The Academy of Medical Sciences, and the British Skin Foundation, supporting projects on epidermal stemness, YAP/TAZ dependencies, and confocal imaging infrastructure.

His laboratory, now based at Queen Mary University of London, investigates the transcriptional control of epidermal stem cells and their transformation in cancer. The lab combines molecular biology, cell engineering, and animal models to explore novel therapeutic strategies for skin cancers.