Ulrike Mayer

Ulrike Mayer is a Professor of Cell Biology at the University of East Anglia's School of Biological Sciences, based in the Biomedical Research Centre. She holds leadership roles as Co-Director of the Biomedical Research Centre and Chair of the Disease Modelling Unit user group. Her career includes senior academic positions at the Max-Planck-Institute and University of Manchester before joining UEA in 2006.

Education: PhD in Chemistry (1988, Ludwig-Maximillian University, Munich) and Diploma in Chemistry (1984, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg). Research focuses on cell-extracellular matrix interactions in skeletal muscle maintenance/regeneration, with emphasis on integrin signaling, muscle stem cells, and autophagy in disease contexts like muscular dystrophy and diet-induced obesity. Current projects explore LAP autophagy in pancreatitis, cilia function in muscle repair, and glucose homeostasis.

Teaching includes modules on cell biology, molecular medicine, and biomedical research methods. She leads 14 active research projects funded by MRC, BBSRC, and charitable trusts. Editorial roles include Frontiers in Vascular Physiology and PLOS Currents: Muscular Dystrophy.