Molecular Biology and Molecular Mechanisms of Disease

 Professor Luminita Paraoan, MSc (Biochem), PhD

Group leader Ocular Molecular biology and Mechanisms of Disease

• Graduated from University of Bucharest (Biochemistry) in 1990; PhD in Genetics and Microbiology from The Romanian Academy of Sciences in 1996 and a further PhD in Biochemistry from The University of Liverpool in 1998.
• Fulbright research Scholar at The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA, 1992-1993 Wellcome Trust Prize studentship in The Department of Biochemistry, University of Liverpool, UK.
• Wellcome Trust Prize Fellow at The University of Liverpool, UK, 1998-2000
• Appointed Lecturer in 2003 in the Department of Medicine, Senior Lecturer in 2006 in the School of Clinical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Reader in the Department of Eye and Vision Science, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool.
• Since 2016 Luminita is Professor of Ocular Molecular and Cellular Biology in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool.

Kaiyue Teng (PhD student)

Role of posttranslational modifications in regulation of PERP function and related cell death/signalling mechanisms

Neil Saptarshi (PhD Student)

Investigating Epigenetic Changes in Age-related Macular Degeneration: From Differentially Methylated Locus to Functional Consequence

My work in Professor Paraon’s group focuses on identifying, validating and initiating mechanistic studies of differentially methylated genes in RPE/Choroid-derived gDNA from dry-AMD patients. Validated and biologically relevant genes will be thoroughly tested and their contribution to disease pathogenesis determined

Xin Li (PhD student)

Understanding the role of alternative splicing of transcription factors in normal and ageing RPE: the possible functional consequences of AMD pathology

Dhanach Dhirachaikulpanich (PhD Student)

Analysis of transcriptional and functional changes in the ageing retinal pigment epithelium. 

Sean Duffy (MPhil Student)

Epigenetic changes in age-related macular degeneration: Functional investigation of a novel validated target involved in transcription-controlled DNA repair

Dr Louise F. Porter (Associate)

Epigenetic profiling of age-related macular degeneration

Emily Brown (MSc Adv Biol Sci)

Analysis of risk factors and transcriptomic changes in AMD

Oliver Maldon (MSc Adv Biol Sci)

Daisy Clark (Hon BSc student)

Studying aspects of ageing biology in RPE