Professor John Isaacs is a leading researcher at Newcastle University specializing in rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune disease mechanisms. With a focus on biomarker discovery , therapeutic tolerance , and clinical trial design , his work bridges immunology , genomics , and translational medicine . Key Research Areas : Immunobiology of rheumatoid arthritis Anti-TNF therapy response prediction Tolerogenic dendritic cell therapies Genetic susceptibility in autoimmune diseases Clinical trial methodology (e.g., DEFINE/SPIRIT-DEFINE) Interferon signaling in disease progression Clinical Contributions : Principal investigator in BIO-FLARE and APIPPRA trials Leadership in EULAR guidelines for therapeutic drug monitoring Analysis of drug-free remission predictors Advocacy for ultrasound and genomic biomarkers in RA Collaborations span academia-industry partnerships like the RA-MAP Consortium, with extensive publications on T cell immunology , cytokine signaling , and precision medicine in inflammatory diseases.
Rocío Melissa Rivera is a Professor of Reproductive Physiology and Epigenetics in the Division of Animal Sciences at the University of Missouri. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Florida and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research investigates epigenetic disruptions in gametes and embryos caused by assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Key projects characterize Large Offspring Syndrome in ruminants and Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome in humans—both loss-of-imprinting overgrowth conditions linked to ART. She explores how superovulation and maternal aging alter oocyte DNA methylation patterns and gene expression. Dr. Rivera employs bovine and murine models to identify molecular triggers of epigenetic syndromes, using transcriptomic and chromatin analysis. Current work examines dietary interventions to mitigate ART-associated epigenetic errors. She mentors doctoral students in projects ranging from IGF2R regulation in fetal overgrowth to retroelement control in oocytes. As a Fulbright Senior Scholar at Spain's University of Murcia, she contributed to reproductive biology education. Her laboratory combines developmental biology, epigenetics, and molecular analysis to improve ART safety.
Matthew Hudson is a Professor in Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois, with additional appointments at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) and as a Professor in Bioengineering. He is also an Affiliate at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology. His interdisciplinary work bridges plant genomics, computational biology, and agricultural science, leveraging high-performance computing to address critical challenges in crop improvement. Dr. Hudson's research focuses on plant genomics, particularly in soybean and other crops, with emphasis on understanding genetic resistance to pests like the soybean cyst nematode. His work spans multiple areas including genomics , plant-pathogen interactions , genome editing , and lipid metabolism in plants . He has made significant contributions to understanding the genetic basis of soybean cyst nematode resistance through studies of the Rhg1 locus and other quantitative trait loci. Analysis of Dr. Hudson's recent publications reveals a strong focus on applying advanced genomic technologies to crop improvement. His work increasingly integrates high-throughput genome engineering , automated phenotyping systems , and pangenome analyses to develop climate-resilient crops. A notable trend is the development of computational tools and databases like "FatPlants" that integrate genomic and metabolic pathway information to accelerate crop breeding. NACTA Educator Award (2010) While specific details about Dr. Hudson's advising and grant portfolio aren't explicitly mentioned in the available information, his extensive publication record (over 100 research outputs including articles, patents, and book chapters) suggests active mentorship of students and postdocs. His research likely involves significant grant funding given the computational and experimental scale of his projects, particularly those involving the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Dr. Hudson's work appears to be highly collaborative, engaging with researchers across plant biology, computational science, and agricultural engineering. His affiliation with the National Center for Supercomputing Applications suggests involvement in developing and applying advanced computational approaches to genomic data analysis, potentially including machine learning and big data analytics for crop improvement.
Dr Jungnam Cho is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biosciences at Durham University, UK. Prior to this role, he served as a Group Leader at the CAS-JIC Centre of Excellence for Plant and Microbial Sciences (2018–2023), jointly affiliated with the John Innes Centre and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. His academic background includes a BSc (2007) and PhD (2013) from Seoul National University, followed by post-doctoral research at the University of Cambridge (2013–2018). Education: Bachelor of Science in Biology, Seoul National University (2007) Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Molecular Biology, Seoul National University (2013) Post-doctoral training at University of Cambridge (2013–2018) Research Interests: Dr Cho’s lab focuses on understanding the biological functions of transposable elements (TEs) in plants, particularly their roles in genome plasticity, epigenetics, and epitranscriptomics. His work challenges the notion of TEs as 'junk DNA' by exploring their contributions to genetic diversity and genome evolution. Using Arabidopsis and rice as primary models, his lab employs a multidisciplinary approach combining genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology, and computational methods to dissect TE regulation mechanisms. Recent studies highlight the lab’s focus on m6A RNA methylation, transposon mobilization under environmental stresses, and leveraging TEs for crop improvement. Articles Trends: His recent publications emphasize the interplay between RNA modifications (e.g., m6A methylation/demethylation) and transposon activity, with a strong focus on plant-specific mechanisms. Collaborations with institutions like Zhejiang University and Fudan University underscore his work’s global impact. Key themes include TE-driven epigenetic reprogramming in bamboo, synthetic retroelement integration, and the role of transposon-derived non-coding RNAs in developmental processes. Scientific Awards: CAS PIFI visiting scholar award (2025) Advising & Grants: Dr Cho currently advises two PhD students: Ben Shone and Seunghui Mun. His lab has secured notable grants including a BBSRC standard research grant and The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation Grant. Previous notable work includes identifying TEs as microRNA sponges in rice root development and elucidating light-induced histone demethylation in seed germination. Labs & Teams: As head of the Plant Genome Dynamics Lab , Dr Cho leads a team focused on unraveling transposon regulation through innovative techniques like ALE-seq and integrates computational biology with experimental genetics. Collaborators include Professors Chanhong Kim (epigenetic signaling) and Yijing Zhang (rice genomics).
Prof. Dr. Rayk Behrendt is a Professor at the University of Bonn's Institut für klinische Chemie und klinische Pharmakologie. His research focuses on innate immunity mechanisms, particularly nucleic acid sensing pathways like cGAS/STING, and their roles in inflammation, genome stability, and autoimmune diseases. He investigates how endogenous retroelements regulate immune responses in health and disease. Research interests center on: Pattern recognition receptors and nucleic acid sensing Inflammatory pathways in sterile and infectious diseases Therapeutic targeting of STING pathway components Retroelement immunobiology and genome surveillance Publications demonstrate consistent focus on immunopathology mechanisms, with recent work exploring therapeutic interventions targeting nucleic acid sensors. Research trends indicate strong emphasis on tumor microenvironment modulation, hematopoietic cell regulation, and innovative immunotherapy approaches. Laboratory activities include interdisciplinary collaborations on immune signaling pathways, with ongoing projects examining innate immunity in cancer, autoimmunity, and viral infections.
Selma Masri is Associate Professor of Biological Chemistry at UC Irvine School of Medicine, investigating circadian regulation of metabolism and chromatin dynamics. Research explores sirtuin-mediated epigenetic control of metabolic pathways and circadian disruption in cancer. Key findings reveal partitioning of circadian transcription by SIRT6 and metabolic control mechanisms. Current studies examine DNA damage responses, tumor immunosuppression rhythms, and therapeutic modulation of circadian-metabolic interactions in disease.
Mark Williams is a Professor and Chair in the Department of Physics at Northeastern University, leading the Williams Laboratory for Single Molecule Biophysics. His research focuses on developing single molecule techniques to study nucleic acid interactions in viral replication (HIV, SARS-CoV-2), retrotransposons (LINE-1), and chromatin biology (nucleosome dynamics). The lab employs optical tweezers, AFM, and fluorescence microscopy to investigate protein-DNA/RNA interactions at the biophysical level. Key research areas include HIV-1 nucleocapsid protein mechanisms, SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid functional switches, HMGB protein-mediated nucleosome destabilization, and drug-DNA interactions (e.g., doxorubicin, ruthenium complexes). Collaborations with biological experts ensure translation of biophysical findings into biological context. Recent articles (2023-2025) highlight advancements in understanding HIV uncoating regulation via DNA condensation, SARS-CoV-2 N protein structure-function relationships, and nucleosome chaperone activities of FACT/LEDGF. No scientific awards explicitly mentioned in texts. Labs/Teams: Founder of the Williams Laboratory for Single Molecule Biophysics at Northeastern's Dana Research Center. Active in virology, biophysics, and structural biology communities. Research has been featured in Northeastern news for its potential impact on HIV treatment development.
Martin Carr is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Physical and Life Sciences within the School of Applied Sciences at the University of Huddersfield. He is also a Member of the Evolutionary Genomics Research Centre and holds an Associate Membership with the Cellular and Molecular Models of Disease Centre. Dr. Carr is actively accepting PhD students and has a research profile that spans evolutionary biology, genomics, and protistology. His educational background includes Biochemistry and Genetics studies followed by a PhD in population genetics from the University of Nottingham. His postdoctoral career took him to the Natural History Museum in London, UCL, and the Universities of York and Leeds, where he developed expertise in bioinformatics, phylogenetics, and population genetics. Dr. Carr's research focuses on the eukaryotic supergroup Opisthokonta, particularly on choanoflagellates as the sister-group to animals. His work explores how animals evolved from unicellular ancestors through genomic and molecular analyses. Additional research interests include transposable elements, genome evolution, and the population genetics of these genetic parasites. His fingerprint analysis shows strong emphasis on Choanoflagellata (100%), DNA Transposable Elements (38%), Phylogeny (31%), Genome (25%), and Retroelements (23%). His publication record shows consistent output since 2001, with recent publications in 2025, 2023, and 2022 spanning topics from choanoflagellate phylogeny to protistan origins of animals and fungi. His work demonstrates a clear focus on molecular evolution and the genomic basis of evolutionary transitions, particularly the animal-fungal-protist relationships within Opisthokonta. Dr. Carr is an active member of the scientific community, serving as Treasurer of the British Society of Protist Biology (BSPB) since 2009 and as a committee member since that time. He is also a member of the Genetics Society. His professional activities include numerous peer reviews for journals like Nature Communications and Open Biology, as well as oral presentations at conferences. His research contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to understanding biodiversity and evolutionary processes. With a Google Scholar h-index of 18 from 2,268 citations, his work has gained significant recognition in the field of evolutionary biology and protistology.
Hermie J.M. Harmsen is a Professor in the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of Groningen (UMCG). He holds dual affiliations with the Microbes in Health and Disease (MHD) department and the Groningen Institute for Gastro Intestinal Genetics and Immunology (3GI). His research focuses on understanding microbial interactions in the gut, particularly their roles in health and disease. Key research interests include the gut microbiome, intestinal flora, and their implications in gastroenterology and immunology. He has contributed to studies on culturomics, metagenomics, and microbial ecology, with a focus on identifying novel species and antimicrobial agents. Harmsen leads the 'Eco-evolutionary dynamics and control of the gut microbiome' project (2017–2023), investigating microbial community dynamics. He has supervised 20 students and contributed to 239 research outputs, including peer-reviewed articles and datasets. Notably, he received the NWO Science Communication Initiative Award 2024 for public engagement in science.
Prof. Alexandra Zhernakova is a Professor of Genome and Exposome at the University of Groningen's Department of Genetics (UMCG). Her research focuses on genetic and environmental factors influencing immune-related diseases, gastrointestinal health, and aging, with a major emphasis on the gut microbiome's role in human health. She leads the Lifelines-NEXT cohort, investigating early-life microbiome development and its impact on immune and metabolic health. Her work includes pioneering studies on microbiome-drug interactions and multi-omics approaches to understand host-microbiome relationships. Education: MD (Paediatrics, 1995) from St. Petersburg State Academy of Paediatrics; PhD (2009, cum laude) from Utrecht University. Key Projects: Groningen Microbiome Hub, Lifelines-NEXT cohort, MiBioGen consortium. Awards: Gamow Award (2022) for microbiome research. Her research bridges genetics, exposomics, and clinical medicine, with contributions to understanding microbiome influences on cardiovascular, metabolic, and gastrointestinal diseases. Ongoing work includes studying antibiotic effects on infant microbiomes and immune development during pregnancy.
Dr. Paul Andrew Rowley is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Idaho, part of the College of Science. His research focuses on antifungal proteins (killer toxins) and their mechanisms of action against fungal cells, particularly in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and pathogenic fungi. He emphasizes undergraduate research mentorship, having hosted 57 students over 8 years through federal and institutional grants. His work bridges molecular biology, evolutionary biology, and clinical applications. Education: B.A. in Microbiology/Virology from the University of Warwick (2002); Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Aberdeen (2007). Postdoctoral training at the University of Texas at Austin and the Biofrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder. Research interests include killer toxin cytotoxicity, yeast evolution, and virus-host interactions. Notable projects explore applications of killer toxins against Candida infections and fungal pathogens. The Rowley Lab promotes inclusive research environments and has developed outreach programs like yEvo for high school students. Honors include the 2024 Faculty of the Year Award, 2022 College of Science Early Career Award, and ASM Science Teaching Fellowship (2014). His lab has secured grants from the Hypothesis Fund and NIH for undergraduate research and toxin discovery. Ongoing projects investigate toxin mechanisms in brewing yeast and novel viruses in Saccharomyces species.
Ruchi Shukla is a Researcher at Northumbria University, specializing in cancer biology with a focus on retrotransposon-driven mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and autoimmune diseases. She holds a PhD in Biological Sciences (2007) and has led groundbreaking studies on L1 retrotransposon activation in cancer initiation and progression. Her work bridges molecular oncology, immunology, and genetic instability, with key contributions to understanding HCV-induced carcinogenesis and synthetic lethality targets in HCC. Research Interests: Retrotransposon mobilization in cancer development Molecular pathways in hepatocellular carcinoma Autoimmune mechanisms and cytokine networks Tumor microenvironment dynamics Therapeutic targets for non-cirrhotic HCC Publications Highlight: Her most recent work (2025) links retroelement activation to anti-CCP antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis, while her 2023 studies identify TIAM1 as a synthetic-lethal target in HCC. Over 20 peer-reviewed articles span retrotransposon biology, cancer genetics, and viral oncogenesis. Advising & Collaboration: Supervises Ayodeji Olushola Awotula (PhD student since 2024). Collaborates with global teams on projects involving epigenetic regulation, biomarker discovery, and translational oncology. Labs/Teams: Conducts research within Northumbria's interdisciplinary cancer biology group, focusing on genomic instability and tumor biology.
Dr. Stephanie Ceman is a Professor of Cell & Developmental Biology and Director of Graduate Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s School of Molecular & Cellular Biology. She holds affiliations with the Beckman Institute, Neuroscience Graduate Program, Institute for Genomic Biology, and Carle Illinois College of Medicine. Her research focuses on the molecular basis of neurological disorders, particularly the role of RNA helicase MOV10 in brain development, neuronal function, and RNA-protein interactions. She has been recognized with the Campus Award for Excellence in Instruction and a College of LAS Teaching Award. Dr. Ceman’s education includes a B.S. in Bacteriology and a Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, followed by postdoctoral training at the University of Chicago and Emory University. She teaches courses such as MCB 493 (Special Topics in Molecular Cell Biology) and NEUR 598 (Proseminar in Psychology). Her lab investigates how MOV10 regulates RNA fate, dendritic branching, and fear memory through interactions with microRNAs and AGO2. Key findings include MOV10’s essential role in embryonic development and its suppression of retroelements in the brain. Recent work explores phosphorylation-mediated control of MOV10’s unwinding activity and its implications for translational regulation. Dr. Ceman’s awards highlight her contributions to both research and education, and her collaborative programs bridge molecular biology with clinical applications in neuroscience.
Massimiliano Mazzone is a Full Professor at KU Leuven's Faculty of Medicine, Department of Oncology, where he serves as head of the Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis (VIB-KU Leuven) and is a member of both the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology and the KU Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI). Previously, he held a part-time full professor position at the University of Turin's Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences from 2019-2022. Dr. Mazzone's research primarily focuses on the tumor microenvironment, with emphasis on tumor-associated macrophages, immunotherapy resistance mechanisms, cancer metabolism, angiogenesis, and tumor inflammation. His work explores how metabolic reprogramming in both tumor and immune cells affects cancer progression and response to therapy, particularly examining the role of macrophages in creating immunosuppressive environments and how to reprogram them for therapeutic benefit. His recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate a strong focus on metabolic regulation of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, particularly examining how tumor-associated macrophages and T cells interact metabolically to influence immunotherapy response. Key themes include metabolic re-education of immune cells, acidosis in the tumor microenvironment, nucleotide metabolism in immunosuppression, and identifying novel metabolic targets to enhance immunotherapy efficacy across various cancer types including pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma. Dr. Mazzone currently leads multiple research projects extending through 2029, including investigations into eicosanoid metabolism in immunotherapy resistance, synthetic lethality approaches targeting therapy-resistant cancer cells, epigenetic regulation of tumor-associated macrophages, and metabolic pathways in T cell function. His laboratory has secured significant funding for these innovative approaches to overcoming cancer treatment resistance. As an academic supervisor, Dr. Mazzone has mentored several doctoral students including Simões Faria R.S., Pretto S., and Vanmeerbeek I., contributing to the development of next-generation cancer researchers focused on the intersection of immunology and metabolism.
Dr. Diego Villar is a Non-clinical Senior Lecturer at Queen Mary University of London's Blizard Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. His laboratory integrates genomics, epigenetics, and bioinformatics to investigate myocardial gene regulation mechanisms and their implications in cardiovascular disease, while also exploring evolutionary adaptations in African mole-rats through comparative genomics. PhD in Molecular Biology Postdoctoral training in neurodegeneration Established BHF-funded independent research group Research focuses on transcriptional dynamics in mammals through: Functional genomics of non-coding elements Cardiovascular epigenetic profiling Evolutionary enhancer analysis Recent publications examine DNA methylation networks in mammalian traits, lineage-specific adaptations in subterranean species, and regulatory element contributions to cardiovascular pathology. Key projects include characterizing myocardial enhancers with disease-associated variants and exploring stress resistance mechanisms in hypoxia-adapted rodents. Scientific recognitions include: British Heart Foundation Basic Science Fellowship (2018) EMBO Short Term Fellowships (2016, 2009) Ramon y Cajal Merit Award (2016) CRUK Travel Award (2012) Current supervision includes: Dr. Stephanie Frost (BHF-funded Postdoctoral Scientist) Mr. Yu Huang (Regenerative Medicine MSc student) Alumni: Daniel Pavon Heredia (CONACYT MSc) and Yiling Wan (undergraduate project)
