Nezha Benabdallah

Dr. Nezha Benabdallah is a Chancellor's Fellow and Group Leader at the Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh. Her research focuses on chromatin regulation in fusion-driven sarcomas, with a particular emphasis on epigenetic mechanisms and tumorigenesis. She is supported by the IGC Langmuir Talent Fellowship and leads a research group dedicated to understanding chromatin regulators in cancer biology.

• PhD in Genetics & Molecular Medicine (2017), University of Edinburgh
• European Master of Genetics (2013), University Paris VII Denis Diderot
• Masters of Engineering (2013), AgroParisTech

Research Interests: Dr. Benabdallah investigates chromatin regulators as drivers of cancer initiation, particularly in sarcomas caused by chromosomal rearrangements. Her work bridges fundamental chromatin biology with clinical models to uncover mechanisms of oncofusion proteins and develop therapeutic strategies. She also explores 3D genome organization and enhancer-promoter interactions in gene regulation.

Article Trends: Her publications highlight chromatin dysregulation in synovial sarcoma, enhancer activation dynamics, Sonic Hedgehog enhancer function, and Polycomb-associated chromatin domains. Key themes include oncogenic fusion proteins, DNA methylation, 3D genome architecture, and epigenetic therapies.

Scientific Awards:

• Young Talent Award of the National Decade Against Cancer (2024), Germany

Grants & Collaborations: Funded by the Royal Society (2025–2026) for investigating novel Polycomb-associated proteins. Collaborates with institutions like the German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ) and participates in the Edinburgh Chromatin, Epigenetics, and Transcriptional Regulation Network.