Dr. Ian Brierley

Biography

Professor Ian Brierley works in the Department of Pathology at the University of Cambridge, focusing on RNA virology. He completed his PhD at the University of York under Jim Hoggett, studying transcriptional activation mechanisms. His research centers on translational control, with a particular emphasis on ribosomal frameshifting and readthrough phenomena in viral gene expression. His studies utilize various viral models and have demonstrated the role of RNA structures, such as pseudoknots, in regulating translation. He has conducted extensive research on ribosomal frameshifting signals in viruses, especially cardioviruses and arteriviruses, exploring how these signals coordinate gene expression and contribute to viral replication. Additionally, he investigates termination codon suppression, analyzing how viral mRNAs may manipulate stop codons to extend polypeptide chains. His lab is currently focused on understanding the mechanisms by which RNA structures influence frameshifting and readthrough efficiency, using advanced techniques such as ribosome profiling to examine translational dynamics in the context of viral infections.

Research Interests