A list of the Engineering Biology Hub steering group members at the Roslin Institute (A-Z). NameInterestsE-mailTom BurdonCellular models. Growth and differentiation of pluripotent stem cells to understand mammalian development and advance regenerative medicine, comparing mammalian species to define core pluripotency pathways.Tom.Burdon@roslin.ed.ac.ukFinn Grey (co-convener)High throughput approaches to discover and characterise novel host-pathogen interactions in farmed animal species. Including small interfering RNA (siRNA) and CRISPR/Cas9 screens, arrayed interferon stimulated gene (ISG) expression libraries and microRNA target identification.Finn.Grey@roslin.ed.ac.ukDenis Headon Using gene-edited and transgenic chicken lines to study developmental biology and uncover genetic mechanisms driving trait formation. Insights into cell differentiation and tissue patterning to inform understanding of agriculturally important traits like feathers in poultry and wool in sheep.Denis.Headon@roslin.ed.ac.ukJames GloverExploring how molecular and mechanical cues shape embryonic tissue organization using chick embryos and transgenic models, with the goal of understanding vertebrate pattern formation and informing regenerative medicine.James.Glover@roslin.ed.ac.ukMike McGrew Advancing avian reproductive technologies through primordial germ cell manipulation, gene editing, and transgenesis. Focus includes biobanking and cryopreservation for genetic preservation and breeding innovation in avian species.Mike.Mcgrew@roslin.ed.ac.ukJames Prendergast Studying mammalian gene regulation and disease genetics, integrating AI to predict causal genetic variation underlying complex traits.James.Prendergast@ed.ac.ukNicholas Parkinson Research interests include clinical equine medicine, immunology, infectious disease, genomics and gene editing.Nick.Parkinson@ed.ac.ukMark Stevens (co-convener)Focuses on bacterial virulence, host genetic resistance for selective breeding, vaccine evaluation, and antimicrobial resistance dynamics.Mark.Stevens@roslin.ed.ac.ukJacqueline Smith Focusing on avian genomics to investigate genetic mechanisms of resilience in birds, including disease resistance and adaptation to environmental stress, with emphasis on host responses to avian viral infections.Jacqueline.Smith@roslin.ed.ac.ukChristine Tait-Burkard Investigating host-pathogen interactions of porcine and zoonotic viruses to elucidate mechanisms of genetic susceptibility and resistance. Applying these insights to develop diagnostic tools, therapeutic strategies, and genome-edited livestock with enhanced disease resistance. Christine.Burkard@roslin.ed.ac.ukPostdoctoral Research Associates for the Engineering Biology HubNameInterestsE-mailRose BlakeI am interested in host-pathogen interactions of livestock species, having previously researched bacterial infection of cattle using a bovine enteroid model and currently using genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screens to identify pro- and anti-viral host factors against influenza A virus. I aim to use high throughput methods to discover novel host factors against bacterial and viral pathogens which can be further characterised using complex in vitro host models.rblake3@ed.ac.ukSamer HalabiOptimising molecular biology tools, including optogenetics and gene editing, through precise genetic manipulation of primordial germ cells to engineer transgenic chicken models. This work focuses on driving breakthroughs in avian reproductive technologies and on enabling high-resolution exploration of cellular and tissue-level processes.Samer.Halabi@ed.ac.uk This article was published on 2025-10-21
