معرفی
Dr Julie Aspden is Associate Professor of RNA Biology in the Faculty of Biological Sciences at the University of Leeds, where she leads the Aspden Lab. Her research focuses on RNA-mediated gene regulation, particularly mRNA translation, long non-coding RNAs, ribosomes, and RNA-binding proteins, using Drosophila melanogaster and mammalian models. She is an academic lead of LeedsOmics and a member of research institutes including LIDA.
- University of Leeds, Faculty of Biological Sciences
- Aspden Lab Principal Investigator
- Academic Lead, LeedsOmics
- Member, Leeds Institute of Data Analytics (LIDA)
Education:
- M. Biochem, University of Oxford (The Queen's College)
- PhD in Biochemistry, University of Cambridge (Selwyn College)
- Postdoctoral Research, University of California, Berkeley (2006–2011)
- Postdoctoral Research, University of Sussex, UK (2012–2015)
Julie Aspden's research centers on the regulation of mRNA translation, the function of cytoplasmic long non-coding RNAs, and the dynamics of RNA-protein complexes (mRNPs). Her group investigates how translational regulation impacts development and disease, with key interests in spermatogenesis and neuronal differentiation. Using techniques such as ribosome profiling (Ribo-Seq and Poly-Ribo-Seq), biochemistry, genomics, and genetics, her lab explores specialized ribosomes, novel open reading frames, micropeptides, and the role of RNA-binding proteins like HOW.
The recent publications reflect a strong trend in RNA biology, with emphasis on translational regulation, ribosome heterogeneity, non-coding RNA function, and their implications in development and disease. Keywords span molecular biology, genomics, neuroscience, and virology, while sub-fields include uORFs, viral RNA switches, micropeptides, epigenetic control, and structural analysis of ribosomes. Her work bridges fundamental mechanisms with applications in cancer, neurodegeneration, and viral infections.
Scientific Awards:
- University Academic Fellowship in Pervasive Transcription (2015)
Dr Aspden has successfully secured research funding from major bodies including the MRC, BBSRC, and Royal Society. She supervises multiple postgraduate students and leads a dynamic research team. Her lab is currently funded by a BBSRC grant, BBSRC DTP studentships, a White Rose Collaborative Award, and previously by an MRC New Investigator Research Grant and Wellcome Trust funding. She mentors both current and former students, many of whom are listed as alumni on her lab website.
She leads the Aspden Lab, which is part of the Heredity, Development and Disease and Cell and Organismal Biology research groups at Leeds. The lab is actively involved in interdisciplinary collaborations, including work with Dr. James Poulter on neuronal differentiation, Dr. Mary O’Connell on evolution, and Dr. Amanda Bretman on spermatogenesis. The lab also collaborates on structural studies using cryo-EM with Dr. Juan Fontana.
