Maria Christophorou

Maria Christophorou is a Tenure Track Group Leader at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and the Epigenetics Department at the Babraham Institute, University of Cambridge. She leads the Christophorou Group which focuses on understanding how developmental cues and cellular stresses are translated into epigenetic changes through the biochemical regulation of epigenetic factors, with particular emphasis on PADI enzymes and protein citrullination. Her research integrates biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, genomic and epigenetic approaches, and mouse model systems to investigate the mechanisms that modulate epigenetic regulators in health and disease.

Dr. Christophorou's research expertise centers on protein citrullination, a post-translational modification that converts arginine residues to citrulline. Her work explores how peptidylarginine deiminases (PADI enzymes) regulate chromatin structure, pluripotency, and cellular responses to stress. She has made significant contributions to understanding the role of PADI4 in stem cell biology, the evolutionary origins of citrullination, and the implications of dysregulated citrullination in autoimmunity, neurodegeneration, and cancer. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges molecular mechanisms with physiological outcomes, revealing how epigenetic regulation shapes cellular identity and function during development and disease.

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on developing tools to study PADI enzymes, creating comprehensive maps of citrullination sites across the proteome, and investigating the evolutionary history of citrullination. The research shows progression from fundamental mechanistic studies toward translational applications, particularly in understanding how citrullination contributes to autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and potential therapeutic targeting of PADI enzymes.

• Sir Henry Dale Fellow (Wellcome Trust and Royal Society)
• Wellcome-Beit Prize recipient
• EMBO Long-Term Postdoctoral Fellowship
• HFSP Long-Term Postdoctoral Fellowship
• Chancellor's Fellowship at University of Edinburgh

Dr. Christophorou actively mentors PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and visiting scientists in her laboratory. Her group has secured significant funding including the Sir Henry Dale Fellowship from the Wellcome Trust and Royal Society, supporting research into the biochemical regulation of epigenetic factors. She has successfully guided multiple students through PhD completion, with alumni now in positions at research institutions including the MRC Human Genetics Unit, Oxford University, and industry roles.

The Christophorou Group operates within the Epigenetics Programme at the Babraham Institute and maintains strong connections with the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. The laboratory employs a multidisciplinary team of researchers with expertise spanning biochemistry, proteomics, cell biology, and computational analysis to investigate the complex roles of protein citrullination in cellular physiology and disease mechanisms.