As a Senior Lecturer in Metabolic Signaling at the Centre for Biomedicine (CfB) within Hull York Medical School (HYMS), my role involves establishing a competitive research programme focused on metabolic signalling in diabetes. The core objective of this programme is to gain deeper insight into the biology and pathobiology of pancreatic islets and insulin-producing β-cells, with the aim of elucidating the mechanisms underlying β-cell failure in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This understanding is critical for identifying novel therapeutic targets with the potential to transform diabetes treatment.
I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Biology at Tarbiat Moalem University, Tehran, Iran, in 2004. I then undertook my Master’s training in Biochemistry at the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, between 2005 and 2007. In 2013, I was awarded a PhD in Biology (Molecular Diabetology) from the University of Bremen, Germany. From 2013 to 2015, I carried out postdoctoral training in the Islet Biology Laboratory at the Centre for Biomolecular Interactions, University of Bremen. In 2015, I also undertook a visiting postdoctoral placement in Professor Per-Olof Berggren’s laboratory at the Rolf Luft Research Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm. I subsequently established my independent research programme as a Group Leader in islet biology at the University of Bremen, a position I held from 2015 to 2023. Alongside this role, I held several international visiting appointments, including a Visiting Professorship in the Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran, from 2019 to 2022. I am currently a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor equivalent) in Metabolic Signalling at Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, UK.
My research laboratory focuses on pancreatic islet biology, with a particular emphasis on signal transduction pathways in diabetes. The central theme of my group is to identify and therapeutically target disease-relevant signalling networks operating at the β-cell, islet, and whole-pancreas levels that drive β-cell dysfunction and failure in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The ultimate goal of this work is to either prevent insulin-producing pancreatic β-cell death and dysfunction or to enhance endogenous β-cell regenerative capacity. This long-standing research programme has already contributed to the development of innovative and translational therapeutic approaches for diabetes. Among the signalling pathways we study, my group has focused extensively on the Hippo signalling pathway for over 15 years. Our work has established critical roles for Hippo pathway components in regulating β-cell quiescence, vulnerability to immune-mediated damage, metabolic stress responses, and autoimmunity in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. We now exploit these mechanistic insights to identify and develop novel therapeutic targets aimed at promoting β-cell protection, repair, and regeneration in diabetes.
Teaching across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in biomedical and clinical sciences,(1) MSc Pharmacology and Drug Development (Therapeutics)(2) Undergraduate modules, including Level 4/5 Skills for Biomedical & Forensic Scientists, Clinical Genetics, Clinical Biochemistry, and Biological Basis of Disease(3) Phase I SSIP project within the MBBS curriculum
1. Wellcome Sanger Institute (Cambridge, UK): Collaboration with Dr Mohammad Lotfollahi on advanced genomics and AI/machine learning approaches to human pancreas development and diabetes pathophysiology.
2. Newcastle University (UK): Collaborative research with Prof James Shaw on pancreas- and type 1 diabetes–focused projects.
3. Biomedical Engineering Group, University of Hull (UK): Collaboration with Dr Amirpasha Moetazedian on the development of 3D vascularised bioprinted pancreatic models.
4. University of New South Wales (Australia): Collaboration with Prof Minoti Apte on pancreatic stellate cell biology and fibrosis in diabetes.
5. University of Lille (France): Collaboration with Prof Julie Kerr-Conte on humanised mouse models of prediabetes; manuscript in preparation.
6. nPOD Network, University of Florida (USA): Ongoing collaboration using rare human pancreatic tissues, supported by Helmsley Charitable Trust pilot funding.
I offer supervision for postgraduate research students across undergraduate, Master’s, and doctoral levels in the area of pancreatic islet biology and diabetes. I currently supervise Level 6 undergraduate Independent Research Projects, a lab-based MSc research project (Ms Halah Aljohani), a research assistant undertaking a research project (Ms Aida Bahrami), and a postdoctoral researcher (Dr Sophia Bigot).
I welcome enquiries from self-funded PhD students and Master’s by Research applicants. Current and immediate research opportunities focus on:
(1) Identifying the mechanisms regulating β-cell quiescence, vulnerability, and autoimmunity in type 1 diabetes
(2) Exploiting these mechanistic insights to develop novel therapeutic targets for β-cell protection, repair, and regeneration in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes
• Member of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) and Diabetes UK
• Editorial Board Member, Scientific Reports
• Associate Editor, Frontiers in Endocrinology – Diabetes: Molecular Mechanisms
• Grant Reviewer for the German Research Foundation (DFG), Diabetes UK, and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust
• Journal Reviewer for Cell Metabolism, Nature Metabolism, Nature Communications, Cell Reports, Diabetologia, Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, and related journals
• 2024 – JDRF nPOD and the Helmsley Charitable Trust Pilot Award
• 2024 – Selected as a member of the Innovator in Diabetes (IDia) programme, supported by Diabetes UK
• 2019 – Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) Advanced Postdoctoral Fellowship
• 2018 – Impulse Grant Award, University of Bremen, Germany
• 2018 – Career Advancement Initiative Award, Journal of Molecular Biology (JMB)
• 2017 – Early Investigator Award, Endocrine Society (supported by Lilly USA, LLC)
• 2017 – EFSD/Lilly Fellowship Programme Award
• 2015 – University of Bremen Award for first successful DFG (German Research Foundation) grant
• 2014 – Albert Renold Travel Fellowship Award, EFSD
• 2014 – “Bremer Studienpreis” Student Prize for best PhD dissertation of the year, University of Bremen, Germany
• 2013 – Young Scientist, 1st DZD Diabetes Research School, Barcelona, Spain
• 2008 – Student Prize for Master’s thesis, University of Tehran, Iran
• 2008 – Young Scientist Award, 8th FEBS–IUBMB Young Scientists Forum at the 33rd FEBS Congress & 11th IUBMB Conference, Athens, Greece
• 2007 – Razi Award for Young Scientists, 9th Iranian Congress of Biochemistry & 2nd International Congress of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shiraz, Iran