Prof. Dr. Sebastian Leidel is a Full Professor of RNA Biochemistry at the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences (DCBP) at the University of Bern, where he leads a research group focused on RNA modifications and their biological functions. He is also affiliated with the Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases (MCID) at the University of Bern and is part of the Swiss National Focus in Research on RNA & Disease jointly hosted by the University of Bern and the ETH Zürich. His educational background includes: Undergraduate studies in Protestant Theology (1991-2001) at University of Siegen, University of Marburg, Hebrew University Jerusalem and Heidelberg University Diploma studies in Biology (1996-2001) at Heidelberg University Diploma Thesis with Hans Schöler at the University of Pennsylvania (2000-2001) on "Induced Expression of Oct4 in Embryoid Bodies" PhD Thesis with Pierre Gönczy at the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Lausanne (2001-2005) on "Centrosome duplication in Caenorhabditis elegans: The role of sas genes" Prof. Leidel's research centers on RNA biochemistry, particularly focusing on chemical modifications of RNA nucleotides. His work investigates how these modifications affect cellular processes, development, and disease. His laboratory employs diverse model organisms ranging from yeast to zebrafish and human cell cultures, utilizing advanced techniques such as ribosome profiling and RNA mass spectrometry. His research has significant implications for understanding fundamental biological processes and developing potential therapeutic approaches for diseases including cancer and infectious diseases. Analysis of Prof. Leidel's recent publications reveals a strong focus on tRNA modifications and their roles in various biological processes. His work spans from fundamental enzymology of modification pathways to the physiological consequences of these modifications in development, disease, and pathogen virulence. A notable trend is the exploration of how RNA modifications influence translation dynamics, mRNA stability, and cellular stress responses, with implications for cancer biology and infectious disease mechanisms. His notable scientific achievements include: ERC Starting Grant (2012) James Heineman Research Award for Outstanding Research Achievements (2016) Prof. Leidel has established a productive research program with numerous collaborative projects. His work on RNA modifications has led to significant insights into how these molecular changes affect cellular function, with particular emphasis on the URM1 pathway and tRNA modifications. His research group has developed innovative methodologies for studying RNA modifications and their functional consequences, contributing to both basic science and potential clinical applications. He has secured competitive funding including an ERC Starting Grant, demonstrating the significance and innovation of his research program. Prof. Leidel leads a research group at the University of Bern that is part of the Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases and the Swiss National Focus in Research on RNA & Disease. His laboratory brings together expertise in biochemistry, molecular biology, and advanced analytical techniques to tackle questions about RNA modifications. The group collaborates extensively with other researchers both within the University of Bern and internationally, forming a dynamic team focused on advancing our understanding of RNA biology.
