Two early career researchers have been awarded Chancellor's Fellowships at the Institute of Genetics and Cancer: June 2024 Image Rebekah Tillotson, who studies a class of rare monogenic disorders resulting from mutations in chromatin factors, and Ansgar Zoch, who researches genome defence mechanisms in the germline, are among ten new fellows in the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. The prestigious five-year fellowships, which have been awarded since 2014, support the most promising academics advance from the early stages of their career to more senior roles and empower their ground-breaking research. By investigating how biological processes are disrupted in rare monogenic disorders called chromatinopathies, Rebekah will dissect how chromatin factors function and uncover therapeutic strategies. Her research programme will initially focus on ATR-X syndrome, before expanding to other ‘chromatinopathies’ with the goal of identifying shared molecular mechanisms that can be targeted by common treatments. Ansgar’s research will focus on how the piRNA pathway – a major transposon defence system in the germline - recruits the molecular machineries that inactivate targeted transposons. Understanding this process will lead to fundamental insights into mechanisms of genome regulation and improve our understanding of male infertility. A Chancellor’s Fellowship has allowed me to establish my independent group at the MRC Human Genetics Unit, and enables me to recruit students through the University of Edinburgh. I am excited to join this collaborative and supportive department, working with colleagues who share my interest in understanding human disease. Rebekah Tillotson The Chancellor’s Fellowship is fantastic recognition of my achievements. The award enables me to fully focus on building up an independent research lab and provides a pathway to a stable academic career. I am very grateful for this opportunity and excited to share my enthusiasm for science with many generations of students to come. Ansgar Zoch Links Tillotson Group Page Zoch Group Page This article was published on 2024-06-21
