Professor Stuart Wilson

My laboratory studies human gene expression and how defects in this process lead to various diseases including motor neuron disease and neurodevelopmental disorders. The group have a long-standing interest in how RNA binding proteins regulate gene expression with a particular interest in how mRNA is processed in the nucleus and subsequently transported to the cytoplasm. We use a wide range of technologies to study these processes including CRISPR engineering of human cells including stem cells, proteomics and next generation DNA sequencing methods to globally analyse gene expression at multiple levels including chromatin organisation, transcription and RNA processing. We also work closely with industrial partners to develop improved expression systems for biopharmaceuticals and most recently we have been developing strategies for improved therapeutic mRNAs. We are also working on a project to develop gene therapy approaches for the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders such as hnRNPU syndrome. I am also the Director and Founder of the Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids (SInFoNiA) (https://sites.google.com/sheffield.ac.uk/sinfonia/home) which is the home for nucleic acids focussed research at the University of Sheffield.