Steven Woods

Steven Woods is a Researcher in the Division of Cell Matrix Biology & Regenerative Medicine at the University of Manchester. His work focuses on molecular mechanisms governing chondrocyte function in skeletal development and diseases like osteoarthritis, with a focus on microRNA regulation and extracellular matrix proteins. He completed his PhD at Newcastle University under Prof. David Young and now works in Prof. Susan Kimber’s group, using patient-derived iPSCs to model cartilage diseases. His techniques include CRISPR-Cas9, RNA-seq, and optogenetic tools.

Education: PhD in skeletal development pathways at Newcastle University (2014). Awards include the 2017 Cartilage Gordon Conference Oral Prize and 2016 UK MSC Best Presentation Award. He is a member of the British Society of Matrix Biology.

Research interests span chondrogenesis, stem cell differentiation, and translational applications in regenerative medicine. His recent work explores optogenetic control of BMP signaling and graphene oxide’s effects on chondrocytes. Over 21 peer-reviewed publications and preprints address cartilage biology, disease modeling, and nanomaterial interactions.