Mohammad K Hajihosseini

Mohammad K Hajihosseini is an Associate Professor in Neuroscience at the School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, where he has been a faculty member since 2003. He is based in the Biomedical Research Centre (BMRC), actively involved in research, teaching, and academic leadership as Director of Postgraduate Studies and organizer of the 'Cell, Development and Molecular Biology' seminar series.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Developmental Neurobiology, National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Mill Hill, London (1994)
• M.Sc. in Neurological Sciences, University College London (1990)
• B.Sc. in Human Biology, King’s College London (1988)

His research focuses on Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) signaling in mammalian development and adult stem cell function. Key interests include transgenic mouse models of craniosynostosis (Pfeiffer and Apert syndromes), hypothalamic neurogenesis, and the role of tanycytes as neural stem cells. His work integrates in vivo, in vitro, and ex vivo approaches, with a particular emphasis on FGF10 and FGFR signaling in organogenesis and stem cell regulation.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in developmental and regenerative biology, particularly in salivary gland morphogenesis, gut-brain communication, craniofacial development, and hypothalamic stem cell dynamics. His research bridges molecular genetics with tissue-level phenotypes, contributing to both basic science and translational applications.

Scientific Awards:

• Olympus Competition Prize (2007)
• Olympus Competition Prize (2009)
• Runner-up Prize, ASGBI Society (2011)

Mohammad Hajihosseini supervises current PhD students and has mentored numerous alumni in neuroscience and developmental biology. He secures research funding from diverse sources, including the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Anatomical Society, and BBSRC. He actively collaborates with institutions in the UK, USA, Japan, France, and Finland. He also serves on grant panels, including for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, and has chaired the Gordon Research Conference on FGFs in Health and Disease (2020).

His lab, embedded in a collaborative environment at UEA, investigates stem cell niches, FGF signaling, and neurodevelopmental disorders, contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals through biomedical education and research.