معرفی
Dr. Rachel Edgar is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College London's Faculty of Medicine. Her research focuses on how cellular homeostasis and circadian rhythms influence viral infection outcomes. She leads a team investigating osmotic balance, protein homeostasis, and biomolecular condensates in antiviral immunity, with particular attention to respiratory pathogens like SARS-CoV-2 and influenza. Key affiliations include the Immuno-Pathology Network and Section of Virology.
- Education: PhD in herpesvirus biology from the University of Cambridge (2012)
- Postdoctoral work at the University of Cambridge Institute of Metabolic Science and MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
Research Interests: Dr. Edgar's lab explores how circadian clocks, cellular stress responses, and environmental factors modulate infection susceptibility. Her work reveals time-of-day-dependent viral replication rates and identifies mechanisms where cellular clocks are hijacked by viruses. Recent studies highlight propylene glycol's efficacy in inactivating airborne viruses and the role of CRYPTOCHROME proteins in protein homeostasis.
Scientific Achievements: Holder of the Royal Society - Wellcome Sir Henry Dale Fellowship. Her group's discoveries on circadian rhythms' impact on antiviral defenses have advanced understanding of infection dynamics. Collaborations include developing novel infection prevention strategies targeting cellular timekeeping mechanisms.
- Supervised students: Dr Christine Styles, Dr Aiwei Zeng
- Labs/Teams: Focus on primary cell models and natural host-pathogen systems
Grants & Future Work: Ongoing projects investigate circadian-based interventions to reduce viral transmission and explore osmotic stress pathways in antiviral immunity. Her lab aims to translate fundamental discoveries into clinical applications against emerging pathogens.
