Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan BSc, PhD, FHEA

Current Research Projects:
• 25/07/2022-30/09/2023: Muscular Dystrophy UK, PDRA: Moussira Alameddine
Project title: ‘Investigating the mechanism and therapeutic potential of targetting circadian clocks in Collagen VI myopathies’
PI: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan; co-Is: Prof George BouGharios, Dr Aphrodite Vasilaki (UoL), Prof Jennifer Morgan (UCL), Prof Alessandra Ferlini (Italy).

• 1/06/2022-30/06/2023: CIMA Industrial Pump-Priming Award, RA: Alistair Topping
Project title: Targetting Neuromuscular Ageing using Novel Synthetic Retinoids and Chronopharmacological Approaches
PI: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan; co-Is: Prof Andrew Whitting (CEO, Nevrargenics), Dr Paul Chazot (Uo Durham)

• 1/10/2019-31/09/2023: BBSRC-Japan Partnering Award
Project title: ‘The paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus; networks and mathematical models’
PI: Prof Richard Barret-Jolley; Co-Is: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan, Dr Rachel Oldershaw

Current PhD Projects:
• 1/10/2022-30/09/2026: Oversees Funded Doctoral Programme – Mr Sultan Moatsem
Thesis title: ‘Investigating chrono-based mechanisms in degenerative neuromuscular disorders’
Supervisory team: PI: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan; co-Is: Dr Aphrodite Vasilaki, Dr Uazman Alam.

• 1/10/2022-30/09/2026 Overseas-funded PhD Programme – Atilla Altinpinar
Thesis title: 'The effect of low protein diet on the development of the musculoskeletal system'
Supervisory team: PI: Dr Aphrodite Vasilaki, co-Is: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan, Dr Kasia Whysall

• 1/04/2021-31/03/2027 The North West Ambulance Service (NHS) PhD student - Irvine Larrier
Thesis title: ‘Musculoskeletal function around the clock: the effect of age, exercise and shift work’
Supervisory team: PI: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan; co-Is: Dr Kris D’Aout, Dr Masoud Isanejad

• 1/10/2018-31/03/2024 MRC/Versus Arthritis (CIMA) Doctoral programme – Phaedra Winstanley-Zarach
Thesis topic: 'Post-transcriptional mechanisms in musculoskeletal ageing, circadian rhythms'
Supervisory team: PI: Dr Simon Tew, co-Is: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan, Prof George Bou-Gharios

• 1/10/2018- 31/03/2023 MRC/Versus Arthritis (CIMA) PhD Programme – Elizabeth Sutton
Thesis title: ‘Can time-scheduled exercise improve age-associated epigenetic signature of genes regulating circadian timing in the musculoskeletal system?’
Supervisory team: PI: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan; co-Is: Prof Mandy Peffers (UoL), Dr Daryl Shanley (Uo Newcastle).

Completed PhD/MPhil Projects:
• 1/10/2021- 30/09/2022 BBSRC DTP – Zoe Catchpole
Thesis title: 'The role of circadian rhythms and redox signalling in musculoskeletal stem cell ageing’
Supervisory team: PI: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan; co-Is: Dr Aphrodite Vasilaki, Prof Richard Barret-Jolley, Dr Mirela Domijan (UoL), Prof David Young, Dr Daryl Shanley (Uo Newcastle).

• 15/09/2014- 14/09/2018: Crossley Barnes PhD Programme - Niamh Horton
Thesis title: 'The role of NRF2/KEAP1 antioxidant pathway in the regulation of circadian molecular clock: implications for skeletal muscle homeostasis'.
Supervisory team: PI: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan; co-Is: Prof Anne McArdle, Dr Aphrodite Vasilaki.

Completed Research Projects:
• 1/03/2021-31/03/2022: The Royal Society Grant
Project title: ‘Understanding the role of physical activity in the entrainment mechanisms of circadian biological cycles’
PI: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

• 2014-2017: Welcome Trust Institutional Strategic Fund Fellowship
Project title: ‘The role of musculoskeletal clocks in tissue repair and ageing’
PI: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

• 1/07/2014-31/06/2017: The Dowager Countess Eleanor Peel Trust Medical Grant.
Project title: ‘Investigating biological clocks in age-related musculoskeletal degeneration'
PI: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

• 1/12/2015-31/12/2016: Age UK/MICRA Seedcorn Award
Project Title: ‘Can exercise reverse molecular signatures associated with circadian disruption during ageing?’
PI: Prof Qing-Jun Meng (Uo Manchester), co-I: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

• 1/05/2012-31/08/2013: Faculty of Life Sciences Career Development Award, University of Manchester
Project title: ‘Visualising circadian rhythms in skeletal muscle fibers and satellite cells via bioluminescence imaging’
PI: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan, Hosting Institution: Prof Peter Zammit, King's College London

Current Research Projects:
• 1/12/2022-31/11/2024: RoseTrees Trust PDRA: Position is Advertised LIVE!
Project title: ‘Deciphering temporal biological networks contributing to fibrosis in Scleroderma’
PI: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan; co-Is: Prof George BouGharios (UoL), Prof David Abraham (UCL)

• 1/02/2022-31/07/2024: EcMagine Ageing Network ‘Extracellular Matrix Ageing Inter-disciplinary Research Network’
Director: Dr Elizabeth Laird (UoL), co-Director: Prof Matt Dalby (Uo Glasgow), Project Manager: Angela Cucchi
Network Coordinators: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan (UoL); Dr Joe Swift (Uo Manchester), Dr Lisa White (Uo Nottingham); Dr Daryl Shanley (Uo Newcastle)

Current PhD Projects:
• 1/10/2022-30/09/2026: UoL/Self-funded Doctoral Programme – Rama Iljaz
Thesis title: 'Cardiovascular function around the clock: the effects of age, exercise and hormones'
Supervisory team: PI: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan; co-Is: Prof Greg Lip, Dr Parveen Sharma, Dr Sunil Jit Logantha.

• 1/10/2022-30/09/2026: Overseas funded Doctoral Programme – Abigail Christie
Thesis title: 'Manipulation of the mechanism of retinal scarring'
Supervisory team: PI: Dr Victoria Kearns; co-Is: Dr Carl Sheridan, Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

• 1/02/2022-31/01/2026: The Vice-Chancellor PhD studentship - Gemma Farrington
Thesis title: ‘Time to heal: the role of circadian clocks in chronic wounds’
Supervisory Team: PI: Dr Alun Hughes (LJMU); co-Is: Dr Kehinde Ross (LJMU), Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

• 1/01/2018- 28/02/2024 RoseTrees Trust/UoL PhD Programme – Damilola Sarumi
Thesis title: ‘Exploring the mechanisms and therapeutic potential of targeting biological clocks in connective tissue disease Systemic Sclerosis’
Supervisory team: PI: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan; co-Is: Dr Blandine Poulet, Dr Victoria Kearns, Prof David Abraham (UCL).

• 1/10/2017-30/04/2023 Overseas funded Doctoral Programme – Abdulhadi, Al Duhneen
Thesis title: 'The role of circadian clock and DNA damage signalling in chronic lung diseases'
Supervisory team: PI: Dr Lesley Iwanejko, co-Is: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan, Dr Kevin Hamill

Completed Research Projects:
• 1/02/2017-31/07/2021: MRC NIRG Award - PDRA: Dr Sandra Fawcett; RA: Dr Alan Carter
Project title:‘Circadian rhythms and the control of NRF2-based antioxidant signalling as a therapeutic target in tissue repair and pathological healing’
PI: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan; co-Is: Prof George BouGharios, Dr Marina Anderson, Prof David Abraham (UCL).

Completed PhD projects:
• 1/10/2017- 31/03/2022 BBSRC DTP - Martin Galler
Thesis topic: 'Redox regulation, peroxiredoxins and circadian clocks'
Supervisory team: PI: Dr Elizabeth Veal, co-Is: Dr Victor Korolchuk (Newcastle University), Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

• 1/10/2015- 30/09/2019 The Royal Society of Analytical Chemistry funded PhD Programme - Eve Rogers
Thesis title:' Exploring the Potential of the Physio-Mechanical Environment and Circadian Timing in Adult Progenitor Cell Differentiation'
Supervisory team: PIs: Prof John Hunt, Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

Current Research projects:
• 30/11/2021-31/01/2024: UKRI BBSRC -PDRAs: Phaedra Winstanley-Zarach (Biology), Elizabeth Sutton (Biology), Abdulhadi Al Duhneen (Biology), Dr Matthew Leak (Maths)
Title: ‘Circadian Rhythms in the light of COVID-19: Formulating optimal time-of-day regimens for antiviral drugs using human 3D models and in silico modelling
PI: Dr Pekovic-Vaughan (Circadian Biology), co-Is: Prof Andrew Owen (Pharmacology), Dr Mirela Domijan (Maths Modelling).

• 1/02/2022-31/01/2025: The Science Fund -PDRA: Dr Andjelika Kalezic
Project Title: 'REFRAME: Exploring New Avenues in Breast Cancer Research: Redox and Metabolic Reprogramming of Cancer and Associated Adipose Tissue'
PI: Prof Bato Korac (Uo Belgrade, Serbia); co-I: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

• 1/02/2021-30/09/2023: EPSRC Interdisciplinary Award -PDRA: Dr Sara Frecentese
Project title: ‘Coupling circadian rhythms with drug metabolism: a new tool for studying chronopharmacokinetics'
PI: Dr Mirela Domijan, co-Is: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan, Dr Joe Leedale.

Current PhD projects:
• 1/10/2017-30/09/2022 Fight for Sight PhD Programme – Thanos Papadimitropoulos
Thesis topic: Circadian rhythms, novel RNA-acting therapeutics and human disease Aniridia
Supervisory team: PI: Dr Kevin Hamill, co-Is: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan, Prof Colin Willoughby.

Completed Research Projects
• 1/11/2019-31/08/2020: Liverpool Centre for Mathematics in Healthcare Award -PDRA: Dr Louis Gall
Project Title: ‘In silico modelling of NRF2 pathway at the interface between circadian clocks and metabolism’
PI: Dr Mirela Domijan-Dept of Maths; co-Is: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan, Dr Joe Leedale

• 1/03/2017-31/03/2019: BBSRC In Vivo Skills Award
Project title:‘Transgenic animal approaches for studying circadian cycles in models of human disease’
PI: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan; co-Is: Prof Peter Clegg, Dr Simon Tew, Dr Blandine Poulet

Completed PhD projects:
• 1/10/2015- 31/09/2019 BBSRC DTP - Clare Roskell
Thesis title: 'The role of Nuclear Lamins in regulating the circadian molecular clockwork; daily oscillations and response to mechanical stimulation'
Supervisory team: PI: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan; Dr Simon Tew (primary), Prof Pete Clegg (UoL), Dr Daryl Shanley (Uo Newcastle)

• 1/01/2012 - 03/2016 University of Sao Paolo PhD Programme - Anna Barris
Thesis title: 'The role of circadian rhythms in human lysosomal storage disorders'
Supervisory team: PI: Prof Vania Almeida; co-I: Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan