John Curtin

John Curtin is a Lecturer in Functional Genomics at the University of Manchester’s Division of Immunology, Immunity to Infection and Respiratory Medicine. He leads research on asthma heritability using genomic and epigenetic approaches, co-investigating the MAAS birth cohort. His work includes GWAS analyses and British Lung Foundation-funded epigenetic studies using Illumina arrays. Previously, he studied melanoma genomics, identifying c-kit oncogene activation in tumor subtypes.

• PhD in Genetics from Imperial College London (2002)
• MSc in Medical Molecular Genetics from the University of Aberdeen (1999)
• BSc in Industrial Biochemistry from the University of Limerick (1998)

Research focuses on asthma’s molecular mechanisms, leveraging longitudinal population data to link genetics, environment, and disease onset. Collaborations span institutions like Imperial College, COPSAC (Denmark), and University of Melbourne. Methodological expertise includes case-control studies, positional cloning, and comparative genomic hybridization.

Teaching responsibilities include modules on genomics, omics techniques, and practical skills in translational medicine for postgraduates, plus undergraduate personal development courses.