Professor Stuart Wilson

School of Biosciences

Roper Chair in Genetics

Stuart Wilson
Profile picture of Stuart Wilson
Profile
  • 2019- present: Roper Chair in Genetics
  • 2008 - 2019: Professor, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield
  • 2008: Reader, Dept of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield
  • 2003 - 2007: Senior Lecturer, Dept of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield
  • 1999 - 2003: Lecturer Dept. of Biomolecular Sciences, UMIST
  • 1996 - 1999: Weir Junior Research Fellow, University College Oxford
  • 1995 - 1999: Wellcome Trust Career Development Fellow, Biochemistry Dept, Oxford University
  • 1991 - 1995: Post-doctoral fellow, Biochemistry Department, University College London
  • 1987 - 1991: PhD student, Biochemistry Department, University College London
  • 1984 - 1987: Degree in Cell and Molecular Biology, Biophysics Department, King's College London
Research interests

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.

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Journal articles

All publications

Journal articles

Chapters

  • Wilson SA, Van Hateren NJ & jones RS (2009) RNA Interference in Chicken Embryos In Nakamura H (Ed.), Electroporation and Sonoporation in Developmental Biology (pp. 295-314). Springer Verlag RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wilson SA, van hateren NJ & das RM (2009) RNAi in chicken embryos In Doran DT & Helliwell C (Ed.), RNA interference: methods for plants and animals (pp. 183-204). CABI Publishing RIS download Bibtex download

Conference proceedings papers

Preprints

Research group

Graduate students

  • Joshua Zilate (2020-2024) BBSRC CASE student with Astrazenecadevelopment of improved biopharmaceutical expression systems for CHO cells.  

email: jzilate1@sheffield.ac.uk

  • Mikayla Fernholz (2021-2025) BBSRC CASE student with Astrazeneca – development of improved biopharmaceutical expression systems for CHO cells. 

email: mfernholz1@sheffield.ac.uk

  • Ashleigh Whelan (2022-2026) BBSRC – Analysis of the role of RNA binding proteins in the DNA damage response. 

email: agwhelan1@sheffield.ac.uk

Research staff

  • Dr Ang Li (2022-2025) BBSRC project on the role of RNA binding proteins in genome architecture and gene expression. 

email: ali15@sheffield.ac.uk

  • Dr Chiara Galloni (2021-2025) MRC project on synthetic mRNA untranslated regions.

email: c.galloni@sheffield.ac.uk

  • Dr Charlotte Vandermeulen (2021-2025) MRC project on synthetic mRNA untranslated regions.

email: c.vandermeulen@sheffield.ac.uk

  • Dr Daniel Williams (2023-2024) Lifearc project on the development of gene therapy approaches for the treatment of hnRNPU syndrome.

email: Daniel.willaims@sheffield.ac.uk

  • Dr AN Other – new BBSRC funded post to be advertised shortly…. 

Laboratory Manager

  • Vicky Porteous-Medley 

email: v.porteous@sheffield.ac.uk

Teaching activities
  • MBB325 The world of RNA (Module Coordinator)
  • MBB363 Genetics data handling
  • MBB361 Third year literature reviews
  • MBB380 Third year research projects
  • MBB402 Advanced literature review
  • MBB403/404 Advanced research projects