Current lab members          Collaborators           Lab alumni

About Lynne

Lynne was born in Leeds. She read Biochemistry at Oxford University then moved to M.I.T. for her Ph.D. research with Paul Schimmel. As a postdoc with Bill DeGrado, she began the new field of protein design, moving to Yale to start her own lab in 1990. After many productive years at Yale University, where she was Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry; Professor for Chemistry; Director of the Raymond and Beverley Sackler Institute for Biological, Physical and Engineering Sciences she moved to the University of Edinburgh in 2018, as Chair of Interdisciplinary Science in the Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Institute for Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology. 

Employment and Positions

2018 (July)- present  Head of the Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology. Chair in Interdisciplinary Science, Center for Synthetic & Systems Biology, University of Edinburgh

1990- 2018 Assistant, Associate, Professor Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT

2000- 2018 Professor of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

2008- 2018 Director, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Institute for Biological, Physical and Engineering Sciences

2011- 2013 President, The Protein Society

1987- 1989 Visiting Scientist with Dr. W.DeGrado, du Pont, USA

1981- 1987 Ph.D. student with Prof. P.Schimmel, Dept. Biology, M.I.T., USA

 

Current lab members

Ella Thornton, PDRA

Project: High throughput cell-free protein synthesis and surface immobilisation tools

I work between the labs of Lynne Regan and Nadanai Laohakunakorn to create new tools for cell-free protein synthesis and toward microfluidic applications. My PhD was supervised jointly by Lynne Regan and Baojun Wang, where I worked on creating new protein-based biomaterials. Before that, I obtained my undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Liverpool, where I was first introduced to synthetic biology.

Outside of the lab I love cooking new recipes, plus cycling and taking (beginner) ballet classes! 

 

Raef Shams, PDRA

Project: Bespoke proteases for downstream processing of Biopharmaceuticals

I am implementing cell-free screening to identify novel protease with desirable properties. I received my BSc and MSc degrees in Biochemistry from Tanta University, Egypt. I then moved to Japan for PhD studies in the collaborative programme between between Saitama University and RIKEN. My main research themes were drug discovery using computational and experimental approaches to identify small molecule allosteric inhibitors targeting mTORC1, and studying protein-protein interactions and the binding kinetics of RHEB-mTOR. 

When not in the lab I enjoy shopping, jogging, watching TV and cooking. 

 

 

Zoe Gidden, PhD Student 

Project: Non-perturbative use of fluorescent proteins for super-resolution microscopy.

My project is co-supervised by Dr. Mathew Horrocks and aims to fluorescently tag proteins, so that they can be imaged using super-resolution microscopy, while minimizing the effect on the normal function of the protein. The technique will ultimately be used to study amyloid proteins in human derived neurons.I completed my undergraduate degree in biophysics at the University of British Columbia. As part of my degree I spent a year investigating the spread of misfolded protein in motor neurone disease (MND) with the Cashman lab. I thoroughly enjoyed this research experience so I decided to pursue a PhD where I would be able to use my knowledge of physics and biochemistry to research neurodegenerative diseases. 

When I am not in the lab I train and compete with the University of Edinburgh Performance swim team and enjoy getting outside by running and hiking.

 

Fokhrul Islam, PhD Student

Project: Designer protein-based matrices for regenerative medicine

I am Fokhrul, and my PhD project is to create new protein-based hydrogels for an in-vitro 3D culture of stem cells with potential application in regenerative medicine. The combinatorial DNA assembly process will be applied in making many different component proteins for the hydrogels that can provide a native environment for stem cells to support their growth and differentiation. The project will involve the knowledge of molecular biology, biochemistry, biophysics, and cell biology. I received my bachelor's degree in Pharmacy at Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh, and continued there for a master's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences.

In my leisure, I love to travel and enjoy seeing the beauty of new places.

 

Sarah Paterson, PhD Student

Project: Cell free protein synthesis using high throughput microfluidics

I'm Sarah a PhD student funded by the Leverhulme Trust and my project centres on cell-free protein synthesis using high throughput microfluidics. I obtained a master's degree in pharmacy from the University of Strathclyde as well as an MSc in Biomedical Engineering. 

As a keen runner you’ll find me running around muddy fields on weekends competing in cross country races

 

 

Haresh Bhaskar, PhD Student

Project: Visualizing protein function and malfunction in live cells: Application of super-resolution fluorescence microscopy to biologically and bio-medically important processes

I am a PhD student in the Wellcome Integrative Cell Mechanisms program, co-supervised by Dr Mathew Horrocks. Prior to joining the lab in early 2022, I graduated from Imperial College London with a degree in Biological Sciences. As part of my degree, I completed an Industrial Placement at Glaxo SmithKline, where I developed a high-content imaging assay to study acute liver toxicity. Continuing my interest in imaging, I completed my final-year project with Prof. Cristina Lo Celso, mapping the 3D organisation of megakaryocytes in the mouse bone marrow. I am currently interested in studying protein aggregates in neurodegeneration using super-resolution imaging techniques.

Outside the lab, I enjoy cooking, hiking and playing racket sports.

 

Kasia Stefaniak, PhD Student

Project: Modelling and making bespoke scaffolds for applications in regenerative medicine 

In my PhD project, I am working towards developing and optimising new biomaterials from recombinant proteins that could be used in (i deleted liver) tissue engineering. I completed my integrated master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Glasgow. In my final year, I spent 6 months at the Polytechnic University of Valencia working on hydrogels for tissue engineering applications. That was when I discovered my passion for research and decided to pursue a PhD degree in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. When I am not in the lab, I enjoy hiking, travelling and baking. 

 

 

George Hallett, PhD Student

Project: Molecular engineering of the ubiquitin-proteasome system: A new approach to pathogen resistance in plants

I am a PhD student working in the Regan Lab under the supervision of Lynne Regan and Beatriz Orosa to re-engineer the ubiquitin-proteasome system to confer resistance to leaf rust in barley. Before starting my PhD I worked as a molecular biologist for two and a half years at two biotech start-ups. I graduated with a master’s degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Leeds in 2019 where I studied biology, physics, and mathematics. In my free time I enjoy cycling, music and playing and watching rugby.

 

 

Sneha Ravi, PhD Student

Project: Designer materials and structures for molecular regenerative medicine.

I'm Sneha, a PhD student working between the labs of Lynne Regan and Jamie Davies. My project focuses on rotational internal flow layer engineering (RIFLE), a technology to produce controlled hydrogels containing multi-layered tissue-like structures for applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. I hold a Masters degree in Biological Sciences and during my Masters, I worked at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, where I formulated a dual-purpose liposome-reinforced composite gel for treating burn wounds.

I love dancing, singing, and playing my guitar in my leisure time!

 

Hannah Johns, PhD Student

Project: Engineering Cellular Communities.

I’m a PhD student on the Wellcome Integrative Cellular Mechanisms PhD programme. Split between Lynne Regan and Gavin Melaugh’s lab, I work on designing and controlling multicellular assemblies of E.coli through synthetic adhesion constructs on their surface. Alongside this, I use computational modelling to aid in the prediction and understanding of their morphology. Before coming to Edinburgh, I completed my undergraduate degree in Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge and then worked at the University of York as a research trainee in Professor Jeremy Mottram’s group.

In my free time, I enjoy reading, sewing and Pilates. 

 

Collaborators

External collaborators:

Professor Corey O'Hern, Professor of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Physics and Applied Physics, Yale

We have an extremely productive collaboration with Professor Corey O’Hern to use physics-based methods to understand, analyze and re-design protein structure. Our hard sphere plus stereo chemical constraints approach has already revealed important new paradigms. Going forward, we are particularly interested in protein-protein interactions and the ways in which the affinity and specificity of such interactions can be manipulated. View Regan and O'Hern collaborative publication

Professor Anna V. Hine, Professor of Protein Engineering, School of Biosciences, Aston University

 

At the University of Edinburgh:

Dr Mathew Horrocks, Lecturer in Biophysical Chemistry, School of Chemistry

Dr Nadanai Laohakunakorn, Chancellor's Fellow, School of Biological Sciences

Professor Susan Rosser, Chair of Synthetic Biology, School of Biological Sciences and School of Engineering

Professor David Hay, Group Leader and Professor of Tissue Engineering, Centre for Regenerative Medicine

Dr Davide Michieletto, Royal Society University Research Fellow, School of Physics and Astronomy

Dr Beatriz Orosa, Chancellor's Fellow, School of Biological Sciences

Professor Jamie Davis, Group Leader and Professor of Experimental Anatomy, Centre for Integrative Physiology

 

Lab Alumni 

2023

Rossana Boni, PhD Student

2022

Matthew Hardcastle, iCM Summer Intern

Freya Hogg, iCM Summer Intern (joint with Mathew Horrocks)

Flora Hewitt-Harris, Summer Student

Megan Murdoch, Undergraduate Project Student 

Louise Holyoake, Lab Manager 

 

2021

Curran Oi, PhD Student 

Ioanna Demetriou, Undergraduate Project Student 

Chris Brooks, Undergraduate Project Student

Amber Whyte, Undergraduate Project Student

Nicolas Aureau, Undergraduate Project Student

Alex Wurster Jacome Barros Belo, Summer Student 

Junxi Yi, Summer Student 

 

2020 

Jay Gu, Undergraduate Project Student 

Alexandre Bochard, Intern/Masters Student (University of Montpellier)

Hania Neyman, Undergraduate Student

 

2019 

Shatha AlQahtani, Master’s Student 

Qiuwen Yao, Masters Student 

Fatima Rafiq, Summer Student 

Ally Kinnear, Foundation Apprentice (Fife College)

Thomas Lagreze, Intern/Masters Student (University of Montpellier)

Diana Tokarska, Undergraduate Student

Michael Howey, Undergraduate Student

Katie Howard, Undergraduate Chemistry Student

 

2018

Meg Williams, Undergraduate Exchange Student

 

2017 and earlier:

Lisa Adams, Senior Administrative Assistant

Abigail Gahm, Undergraduate Student

Fran Harris, Undergraduate Student

Michael Hinrichsen, Graduate Student

Ashley Schloss, Graduate Student

Danielle Williams, Graduate Student

Lili Aramli, Postdoctoral Fellow

Suganthi Balasubramanian, Postdoctoral Fellow

Barney Bishop, Postdoctoral Fellow

Catharine Bradford, Undergraduate Researcher

Craig Ceo, Undergraduate Researcher

Hongli Chen, Research Assistant

Jieming Chen, Graduate Student

Melanie Cocco, Research Scientist

Robert Collins, Teaching

Seema Dalal, Graduate Student

Luca D'Andrea, Postdoctoral Fellow

Eugene Davidov, Affiliated Scientist

Jerry Dinan, Undergraduate Student

Ajit Divakaruni, Undergraduate Researcher

Ivo Doudevski, NIH Postdoctoral Fellow

Laura Edwards, Graduate Student

Edgardo Farinas, Postdoctoral Fellow

Indraneel Ghosh, Postdoctoral Fellow

Morris Gottlieb, Undergraduate Researcher

Bryan Greer, Undergraduate Researcher

Tijana Grove, Postdoctoral Fellow

Susanne Gülich, Postdoctoral Fellow

Michael Hands, Graduate Student

James Huerta, Undergraduate Researcher

Robie Ilagan, Postdoctoral Fellow

Meredith Jackrel, Graduate Student

Merja Kajander, Lab Technician

Tommi Kajander, Postdoctoral Fellow

Masha Kamenetska, Postdoctoral Fellow

Michael Klemba, Graduate Student

Lenka Kundrat, Graduate Student

Tina Liu, Undergraduate Researcher

Aitziber López Cortajarena, Scientist

Donna Luisi, Postdoctoral Fellow

Kristen Lurie, Summer Student

Thomas Magliery, Postdoctoral Fellow

Ewan Main, Postdoctoral Fellow

Stephen Marino, Graduate Student

Janie Merkel, Graduate Student

Andrew Min, Post-Baccalaureate Student

Mary Munson, Graduate Student

Athena Nagi, Graduate Student

L. Michael Nayak, Undergraduate Researcher

Li Ni, Lab Technician

Weilan Pan, Research Associate

Genaro Pimienta-Rosales, Postdoctoral Fellow

Irina Pozdnyakova, Postdoctoral Fellow

Paul Predki, Postdoctoral Fellow

Melissa Quintanilla, Post-Baccalaureate Student

Rakhshi Qureshi, Undergraduate Student

Jason Rahal, Undergraduate Researcher

Marina Ramirez-Alvarado, Postdoctoral Fellow

Dorina Saro, Postdoctoral Fellow

Nicholas Sawyer, Graduate Student

David Scechner, Undergraduate Researcher

Daniel Schlingman, Graduate Student

Bob Seltzer, Undergraduate Researcher

Mimi Shirasu-Hiza, Undergraduate Researcher

Catherine Smith, Graduate Student

Betsy Speltz, Graduate Student

Hiroshi Takashima, Visiting Scientist

Joana Tala, Lab Manager

Sebastian Urday, Summer Student

Janani Venkatraman, Postdoctoral Fellow

Juan Wang, Lab Technician

Mark Willis, Graduate Student

Chris Wilson, Postdoctoral Fellow

Jenny Yang, Postdoctoral Fellow

Fang Yi, Postdoctoral Fellow

Shao-Min Yuan, Postdoctoral Fellow

Alice Zhou, Graduate Student