Our Organization

CenGEM investigates the molecular mechanisms underpinning the resilience of living systems across scales—from gene interactions to global challenges.

Centre Directorship

Dr Alessandro Esposito

Dr Alessandro Esposito

Director of CenGEM

Specialist in KRAS signalling, DNA damage response, and systems microscopy. Leading the Centre's strategic focus on income and high-impact publications.

Dr Sibylle Ermler

Dr Sibylle Ermler

Deputy Director

Chair of the Steering Committee. Leading Tissue Homeostasis and Resilience research and the Human Health and the Environment priority.

Research Cluster Leads

Dr Ines Castro

Genome Organization & Dynamics

Coordinating Centre activities with the Medical School to bridge fundamental and clinical science.

Dr Victor Hernandez

Disease and Therapeutics

Focused on seeding industrial partnerships and accelerating the translation of gene therapy research.

Dr Ahmet Ucar

Cancer Mechanisms

Driving clinical collaborations and patient engagement to transform cancer research into impactful outcomes.

Prof. Emmanouil Karteris

Space Biology

Leading the Space Biology cluster and championing Women's Health priority area.

Steering Committee

Chaired by the Deputy Director, the Steering Committee is responsible for setting scientific goals and reviewing performance targets, ensuring CenGEM operates as a strategic asset for the University. In addition to the Research Cluster Leads, the committee includes co-opted members who provide strategic oversight and specialized expertise.

Dr Ruth Mackay

Operations & Engineering

Co-lead of the Organ-on-a-Chip group, coordinating intra-university operational alignment.

Dr Gudrun Stenbeck

Strategic Alignment

Head of the Department of Biosciences, ensuring strong integration with university research strategy.

Prof. Joanna Bridger

Healthy Ageing Priority Champion

Specialist in nuclear architecture and strategic lead for healthy ageing initiatives.

Dr Cristina Sisu

AI, digital technologies, and data analytics for better health Priority Champion

Leading computational biology integration and the AI & Data Analytics priority area.

Dr Joseph Hetmanski

Communications

Responsible for Centre communications, web infrastructure, and public-facing presence.

CenGEM is currently establishing an external Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) comprising international academics, industry leaders, and professional specialists to guide its 3-year strategic plan.