Ian Tobias

Dr. Ian Tobias is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph. He holds a PhD from the University of London. His research focuses on understanding gene regulation in neural development, leveraging genetic engineering (including CRISPR) and stem cell models to study neurological diseases like spinocerebellar ataxias. His lab combines computational biology, molecular genetics, and developmental biology approaches.

Research Interests
Dr. Tobias investigates how genetic and epigenetic factors influence neural cell fate decisions, particularly in brain development. His work explores evolutionary conservation of gene regulatory networks and applies this knowledge to model diseases such as cerebellar disorders. Recent projects include studying enhancer clusters in neural progenitors and the role of CTCF-mediated chromatin interactions in phenotypic robustness.

Students & Collaborations
Current advisees include Lonimi Ayekun (MSc), Brandon Iturralde (MSc), and Xinrun Liu (MSc). The lab collaborates on multi-species comparative studies and leverages cutting-edge genome-editing tools to advance therapeutic strategies for neurological disorders.

Publications
Recent work includes high-impact studies on Sox2 enhancer clusters (2025, G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics) and CTCF bypass mechanisms (2023, Nature Genetics). His research bridges basic science and clinical applications, aiming to identify diagnostic markers and treatments for currently untreatable neurological conditions.