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Simon Hughes

Professor Simon Hughes

MRC Scientist and Professor of Developmental Cell Biology

Research interests

  • Cell Biology

Biography

Professor Simon M. Hughes is an  MRC Scientist and Professor of Developmental Cell Biology.  

He studied Biochemistry and did his PhD with Dr Martin D. Brand at the University of Cambridge, followed by postdoctoral training with Professor Martin C. Raff at University College London and Professor Helen M. Blau at Stanford University, where he was a Lucille P. Markey Visiting Fellow.  He became a group leader in the MRC Muscle and Cell Motility Unit at KCL in 1992 and a member of MRC External Scientific Staff with MRC Programme Grant support in 2002.  

His laboratory uses molecular genetic, cell biological and biophysical approaches to study the development, growth and repair of skeletal and cardiac striated muscle and associated tissues in a variety of vertebrate models, principally the zebrafish.  Current interests include the aetiology and prevention of ageing-related muscle weakening (sarcopenia), mechanisms of mechanosensing and muscle growth, muscle stem cell diversity and its control, inherited muscle diseases and their treatment and the evolutionary biology of striated muscle.

    Research

    randall-simon-hughes-hero-banner1903x558
    Hughes Group

    The Hughes Group is part of the Randall Centre for Cell & Molecular Biophysics

    Cells
    King’s MechanoBiology Centre (KMBC)

    The King’s MechanoBiology Centre gives a common platform for researchers across different disciplines with complementary interests in mechanobiology

    News

    Research provides insight into the regulation of muscle fibres

    The discovery marks an important step in understanding how healthy muscle works and may help identify the causes of its decline in ageing and disease.

    muscle-fibre

    Features

    Rosalind Franklin: unifying life and the sciences for the next generation of women

    Professor Simon Hughes discusses the Randall's partnership with The Grey Coat Hospital

    students-seminar-hero

      Research

      randall-simon-hughes-hero-banner1903x558
      Hughes Group

      The Hughes Group is part of the Randall Centre for Cell & Molecular Biophysics

      Cells
      King’s MechanoBiology Centre (KMBC)

      The King’s MechanoBiology Centre gives a common platform for researchers across different disciplines with complementary interests in mechanobiology

      News

      Research provides insight into the regulation of muscle fibres

      The discovery marks an important step in understanding how healthy muscle works and may help identify the causes of its decline in ageing and disease.

      muscle-fibre

      Features

      Rosalind Franklin: unifying life and the sciences for the next generation of women

      Professor Simon Hughes discusses the Randall's partnership with The Grey Coat Hospital

      students-seminar-hero