ResM in Gene Regulation
Welcome to the ResM (Research only Masters) in Gene Regulation - one of the few research-only Masters programs in biological or medical research in the UK. Select from a range of exciting interdisciplinary research projects, supervised by world leading scientists, that integrate genomics, epigenetics, medical research, bioinformatics (including AI), model organism biology or method development.
This Masters course will provide students the opportunity to do a full year of research within QMUL laboratories.
For administrative queries please contact Molly Ramalhoso at m.ramalhoso@qmul.ac.uk
For general course related queries please contact Radu Zabet, r.zabet@qmul.ac.uk or Vardhman Rakyan, v.rakyan@qmul.ac.uk
For project specific queries please contact the relevant project supervisors (see available projects tab)
A central question of modern biological and medical research is how genes are regulated. In recent years, our ability to answer this question has dramatically increased, leading to new and exciting ways to research and understand the fundamental principles of life and treating diseases. In particular, the approaches that hold the most promise are those that combine different disciplines. The ResM in ‘Gene Regulation’ is a new program that offers the unique opportunity to undertake a year of full-time research on a cutting-edge interdisciplinary project within the fields of biological and/or medical research. You will have the opportunity to work in world-leading labs on projects that integrate diverse fields such as genomics, epigenetics, clinical research, non-model organisms, computational biology (including AI), all with the goal of understanding how genomes are regulated in different contexts. Ultimately, the program will provide an excellent springboard for either a subsequent PhD, or employment in industry.
Undertake a year of full-time research (no taught coursework)
- Research projects will be interdisciplinary, integrating different fields.
- Ideal training for a subsequent PhD or jobs in industry
- Learn and work with leading researchers within outstanding research facilities.
- Options to be based at any of QMUL’s London campuses.
- Attend lectures from world-leading scientists and be fully immersed in the networking activities of the Centre for Epigenetics.
- Learn how to interrogate and write scientific papers, to present posters and deliver scientific presentations.
- Extensive networking and training opportunities with support from academic advisors and the doctoral college
- Potential for authorship on peer reviewed publications
Students will need to:
- hold a Bachelor's degree in a relevant subject such as Biological Sciences, Computer Sciences, Medicine or Dentistry (non-UK medical degrees marked on a grading scale must be equivalent to a UK 2:1 degree) or equivalent degree. Applicants with a 2:2 degree will be considered on an individual basis.
- meet the standard Postgraduate Research English Language requirements for the Faculty of Medicine or Dentistry Band 4. The requirements by discipline are listed here:
https://www.qmul.ac.uk/international-students/englishlanguagerequirements/
English language requirements
The English language requirements for our programmes are indicated by English bands, and therefore the specific test and score acceptable is based on the band assigned to the academic department within which your chosen course of study is administered. Note that for some academic departments there are programmes with non-standard English language requirements.
The English Language requirements for entry to postgraduate taught and research programmes in the Blizard Institute falls within the following English band:
Band 4: IELTS (Academic) minimum score 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each of Writing, Listening, Reading and Speaking
Please note, there are some postgraduate programmes with non-standard English language requirements in this Institute.
We accept a range of English tests and qualifications categorised in our English bands for you to demonstrate your level of English Language proficiency. See all accepted English tests that we deem equivalent to these IELTS scores.
Visas and immigration
Find out how to apply for a student visa.
ResM projects 2026 [PDF 191KB]
| Project | Supervisor 1 | Supervisor 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Dissecting the role of non-coding transcripts in cellular senescence | Lovorka Stojic | Radu Zabet |
| Decoding transposable elements as regulatory switches in hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal and aging | Ozgen Deniz | Radu Zabet |
| Investigating post-transcriptional control of ribosomal RNAs to develop new cancer therapies | Diu Nguyen | Vardhman Rakyan |
| Evaluating the role of transposable elements in endometrial health | Miguel Branco | Lovorka Stojic |
| Testing the role of 5mC readers in embryonic development | Alex de Mendoza | Miguel Branco |
| Epitranscriptome-guided ribosome specialisation of bacteria during antibiotic treatment | Christoph Engl | Olivier Marches |
| Inferring gene expression signatures from cell-free DNA for early non-invasive diagnostics of pregnancy complications | Dmitry Shcherbo | Tommy Kaplan |
| Decoding the Epigenetic Regulation of LIMD1-Deficient Lung Tumours: Mechanisms and Targets | Tommy Kaplan | Tyson Sharp |
| The role of LINE-1 elements in cancer immunity in prostate cancer. | Helen Rowe | Yong-Jie Lu |
| Deciphering the role of BRD4 in the regulation of chromatin structure and transcription | Pradeepa Madapura | Pierre Maillard |
| The role of the nuclear actin cytoskeleton in controlling YAP-mediated oncogenic transcription progarmmes. | Gernot Walko | Pradeepa Madapura |
| Establishing a consensus 3D chromatin map of the human hypothalamus and its role in physiology and disease | Elena Bochukova | Radu Zabet |
| The role of immunoglobulin germline variation in multiple sclerosis susceptibility | Louisa James | Chris Bell |
| How do HIV/SIV manipulate innate immunity via epigenetic control of host gene expression | Greg Towers | Helen Rowe |
| Identifying a DNA methylation-based signature associated with metastatic cancer stem cells in oral cancer | Adrian Biddle | Tommy Kaplan |
| Uncovering a potential role of Kcnj8 in neuro-cardiovascular interaction using human iPSC-derived NeuroCV assembloid | Qingzhong Xiao | Yung-Yao Lin |
| Decoding RNA interference-mediated gene regulation in stem cells | Pierre Maillard | Pradeepa Madapura |
| Identifying genetic pathways that underpin glycan-mediated host–microbe interactions | Kieran Bates | Emily Read |
| The role of iRhom2 in regulation of epidermal differentiation. | Diana Blaydon | Gernot Walko |
| Dissecting Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Competition | Paulo Ribeiro | Gabriella Ficz |
| How does Filaggrin loss in Eczema cause epigenetic changes that impair skin barrier function | Ryan O'Shaughnessy | Edel O'Toole |
| Characterising how valproic acid, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, modulates the regulatory landscape of mast cells during periodontitis progression | Fabian Flores-Borja | Diego Villar Lozano |
| Characterisation of methylation status in non-functioning pituitary neuroendocrine tumours | Federica Begalli | Dmitry Shcherbo |
| Modelling early brain morphogenetic defects in neurological diseases using human iPSC-derived organoids | Isabel Palacios | Yung-Yao Lin |
| Exploration of the interactions between radiation-induced DNA damage and DNA methylation pathways in neurons | Tom Millner | Sindhuja Sridharan |
| Bacterial-Mammalian Crosstalk: Gene Regulatory Changes Induced by Extracellular Electron Transfer | Lin Su | Gabriella Ficz |
| Roles of ZC3H18 condensates in post-transcriptional gene regulation in glioma stem cells | Sindhuja Sridharan | Radu Zabet |
| Dissecting the epigenetic regulation of telomerase during erythroid development in human | Mohsin Badat | Miguel Branco |
| Investigating the role of dynamic protein trafficking in immune cell transendothelial migration using a human organ-on-chip platform | Yung-Yao Lin | Tom Nightingale |
| Investigating genome regulation and transposable element control in pre-cancerous cells | Gabriella Ficz | Miguel Branco |
| Assessing the impact of FOXO transcription factor perturbations on cardiac hypertrophy and cardiomyopathy | Diego Villar | Pradeepa Madapura |
| Detecting cell-free DNA of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in plasma of adults with tuberculosis infection or disease | Adrian Martineau | Miguel Branco |
| Investigating the epigenetic regulation of therapy resistance in colorectal cancer liver metastasis | Mirjana Efremova | Radu Zabet |
| Investigating the roles of RNA modifications in regulating transposable element activity in cancer | Ozgen Deniz | Lovorka Stojic |
| Transcription Factor Induction in Chemotherapy-Treated Cancer Cells for Synthetic Promoter Design | David Gould | Radu Zabet |
| Using spatial transcriptomics to determine responses to Lewy body pathology in Parkinson’s disease | Cara Croft | Sarah Morgan |
| Dissecting the impact of cancer-driver mutations and tumour matrix structure on cancer cell behaviour | Elena Torlai Triglia | Oscar Maiques Carlos |
|
Investigating the gene networks that characterize distinct gamma/delta T cell progenitors in the murine thymus. |
Dan Pennington | Neil McCarthy |
| Epigenetics of Type 1 diabetes: study of changes pre-disease in immune cells | Radu Zabet | David Leslie |
| Single Cell RNA-seq python ecosystem tools review and benchmark for cell data transfer and differential expression | Caroline Brennan | Elena Torlai Triglia |
| Single cell transcriptomic profiling of telomerase pertubations in a developing bone marrow organoid model | Hemanth Tummala | Elena Torlai Triglia |
| Role of SUMOylated transcriptional condensates in regulating haematopoietic gene expression | Hemanth Tummala | Sindhuja Sridharan |
| Discovering insulator proteins in annelid worms | Chema Martin | Paul Hurd |
| Translational control as a driver of caste and sex differentiation in the honeybee | Paul Hurd | Vardhman Rakyan |
| Epigenetic modulation of hematopoietic stem cell ageing by royal jelly components | Paul Hurd | Ozgen Deniz |
|
Tissue specific gene regulatory programs of monocytes and macrophages in MASLD associated early fibrosis |
William Alazawi | Neil Dufton |
|
|
There may be an opportunity for students to potentially help design their own research project provided they have the support of two different QMUL-based researchers. To discuss this further please contact Prof Rakyan or Dr Zabet.
ResM projects 2026 [PDF 191KB]
Assessment
Students will be examined by submission of a dissertation.
In addition, students will also need to:
- present a poster (at 6 months)
- deliver a presentation (at 9 months) of their work to the Centre of Epigenetics cohort
Full time study
September 2026 | 1 year
- Home: £15,750
- Overseas: £35,250
EU/EEA/Swiss students
Conditional deposit
Home: Not applicable
Overseas: £2000
Information about deposits
Postgraduate loans
The UK Government offers postgraduate loans for those studying Master's degrees.
The UK Master's Loan offers up to £11,836 for UK national’s if your Master’s programme started on or after 1 August 2022. The Loan is available for any taught Master's programme including MRes programmes and part-time study. You must be under 60 on the first day of the first academic year of your programme, and other eligibility criteria will also apply.
Get more information about how to apply, eligibility criteria, payment information, and loan repayments, including salary scales and interest rates from Queen Mary's Postgraduate Funding advice guide or read the government's latest guidance at gov.uk/postgraduate-loan.
Application windows
The ResM programme has three application windows throughout the academic year in September, January and April
ResM in Gene Regulation FT - September 2026 entry
ResM in Gene Regulation FT - January 2027 entry
ResM in Gene Regulation FT - April 2027 entry
If you would like to contact the Admissions Office directly you can do so by email: admissions@qmul.ac.uk