Dr. Arijit Mukhopadhay
School of Science, Engineering and Environment
Peel Building - Room 322 (office);
Cockcroft Building - TM Lab (Research Lab)
Office hours: Monday - Friday 9am-5pm
Current positions
Reader in Human Genetics
Biography
I am a researcher in Human Genetics & Genomics with over 23 years of research experience (17 years post PhD). Currently, I am a Reader in Human Genetics in the School of Science, Engineering and Environment at the University of Salford, Manchester, United Kingdom.
I have an h-index of 28 (>2660 citations), published 68 peer-reviewed well-cited publications in international journals and supervised 15 PhD students (11 completed, 4 ongoing). I have past and present collaborations with NHS and industry (UK and abroad) and have a consistent record of obtaining and managing research funds.
Current research interest: Role of extracellular noncoding RNA in human diseases
My research is on the broad area of Healthy Ageing. Healthy Ageing is a sustainable development goal (SDG-3) and the World Health Organization has marked the next 10 years as the ‘decade of healthy ageing’ (2020-2030).
I am developing my laboratory (2017 onwards) on identifying RNA based extracellular biomarkers for age related human diseases, which will potentially lead to non-invasive, novel and affordable methods of diagnosis and prognosis. The focus is on small extracellular vesicle (sEV) derived microRNA in Cancer (brain and lung) and Alzheimer Disease. MicroRNAs in sEV is reported as reliable biomarkers for many human diseases especially for remote organs such as the brain. The extracellular RNA can cross the blood-brain barrier enabling detection in the accessible body fluids such as plasma, urine, saliva etc. Currently, I am engaged with multiple collaborators both in the UK and abroad to translate our cell-based findings into more affordable tests.
Areas of research
Human Genetics, Molecular Genetics, Genomics
Areas of supervision
Biomarker, Exosome, Cancer, MicroRNA
- Module leader and lecturer for Genetics for first year undergraduates
- Module leader and lecturer for Human Genetics for final year undergraduates
- Lecturer for Genomics module for postgraduates
- Lecturer in 3D architecture of DNA for 2nd year undergraduates
- Lecturer in Clinical Molecular Genetics for 2nd year undergraduates
- Personal tutor for students at all levels
- Research Project supervisor for final year UG and PG students
I am passionate and curious about understanding how molecular variations can shape phenotypic outcomes. Such variations can be random (replication errors, mutations etc) or can be directed (DNA/RNA editing, epigenetic and epi-transcriptomic changes).
I use a multidisciplinary approach towards my projects and collaborate with clinicians, chemists, data scientists etc.
I served on the editorial boards of multiple journals (e.g. Scientific reports, Frontiers in Genetics, Non-Coding RNA etc) and also serve as reviewer for funding agencies and scientific publishing houses. I am an elected member of the British Society of Genetic Medicine and Royal Society of Biology.
Memberships
- Reviewer for Newton Prize grant on behalf of UK National Commission for UNESCO.
- Editorial board member of Scientific Reports, a Springer-Nature journal (2013-2020)
- Editorial board member of Biochemistry and Cell Biology
- Guest Editor for Non-coding RNA
- Guest editor for Frontiers in Genetics
- Member of the UK Society for Extracellular Vesicles
- Member of the British Society of Genomic Medicine
- Member of the UK and Eire Glaucoma Society
- Member of the Royal Society of Biology
- Life member of the Indian Society of Human Genetics