Professor Julian C. Rayner

Country: United Kingdom

Institution: Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge

Research Areas: Cell biology of malaria parasites

Lab Website: www.sanger.ac.uk/science/groups/rayner-group

Dr. Rayner’s group uses genomics, proteomics and large scale experimental genetics to understand the interactions between Plasmodium parasites and human cells, in order to identify and prioritise new antimalarial drug and vaccine targets. They have a particular focus on the process by which Plasmodium parasites invade human erythrocytes, which is essential to both parasite survival and malaria pathogenesis and is therefore a potential target for vaccine development. Working in close collaboration with colleagues from around the world, the Rayner lab has identified a protein-protein interaction that is essential for erythrocyte invasion and has exciting potential as a vaccine target, helped to trace the origins of human P. falciparum in African apes, and developed and applied new tools to carry out the first ever genome-scale experimental genetic screens in Plasmodium parasites. Prof. Rayner was recently appointed Director of the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research. He is also strongly committed to public engagement with research, and is Director of Wellcome Genome Campus Connecting Science, which aims to enable everyone to explore genomics and its impact on research, health and society. Connecting Science delivers learning and engagement events to more than 30,000 scientists, healthcare professionals and members of the public every year.