Meet the people behind the science.
Dr Carsten Gram Hansen
I did my MSc in Aarhus, Denmark carrying out research on the serotonin transporter. I then moved to Cambridge to pursue a PhD with Dr Ben Nichols at the MRC- Laboratory of Molecular Biology in the Cell Biology division. Through a Lundbeck foundation Post Doctoral Fellowship I stayed on to maximise the output of my PhD findings. After a six-year stint in Cambridge, via a Post Doctoral Fellowship from the Danish Science Foundation I moved to San Diego to work with Professor Kun-Liang Guan. While there I studied the cellular signalling pathway called the Hippo Pathway. In Nov 2015 I was recruited to the University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research on a Chancellor’s Fellowship to set up a new lab. I am now a “Reader” at the Institute for Regeneration and Repair and Centre for Inflammation Research, where we continue to determine how cells respond to their microenvironment, in both cancers and regeneration, with the hope to develop new fundamental insights with therapeutic potential.
Current Society Memberships: Biochemical Society
Current Panel Memberships: 1) Innovations Fonden Grand Solutions – and 2) MRC funded Precision Medicine DTP 3) CMVM Research Cultures Collaboration
I am pleased that our team is diverse, international and that all are great team citizens. Through our shared interest in discovery based inter disciplinary Science, we seek to address fundamental biological questions.
We strive to be challenged and to make important discoveries, but also seek to have fun along the way.
Dr Richard Cunningham – Post Doc 2019 –
After completing my undergraduate studies at Trinity College Dublin, I came to Scotland where I obtained my MSc in Bioinformatics at the University of Glasgow. I stayed on in Glasgow, subsequently carrying out my PhD in Professor Andrew Biankin’s group, exploring the potential in targeting tumour metabolism in pancreatic cancer. As part of the Gram Hansen lab, my research is centred on disentangling the role of the Hippo pathway in the formation and progression of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Currently working collaboratively out of the Bagnaninchi lab.
Read about Ricky’s work
Here, https://doi.org/10.1038/s43018-021-00259-9, DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abj2132, doi.org/10.1042/CS20201474, Here and here
Nancy Hui PhD Student July 2022 – Nov 2025 (Now on a transition Fellowship)
Nancy is part of the Martin Lee PhD program and is studying how the Hippo pathway modulates ageing. Has now submitted her thesis.
Read about Nancy’s work here, here and here
Michaela Noskova PhD Student Sep 2022 –
Michaela is a Prec Medicine PhD student and developing xenograft model systems. Here sitting on top of Calton Hill.
Michaela on Calton Hill
Work, Work, Work, and more
Awards: Michaela was awarded the “Presentation most accessible to lay audience” at the 2024 CIR flash talk event, shortlisted for the college 3MT thesis (’25) and Precession Medicine Poster award.
MARCIN MANIAK PhD Student SEP 2023-
Originally from Poland, I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry at the University of Edinburgh with a year abroad at UC Berkeley. After completing my summer internship in the Gram Hansen group, I decided to stay on for my PhD to study mechanotransduction in immune cells. In other words, how mechanical stimuli shape immune cell responses in inflammation and regeneration.
hailey Deckers – PhD (AI4BI) 2025-
I’m a PhD student on the AI4BI program. Prior to that I completed my undergraduate at the University of Southampton, where I became fascinated by the promise of immunological interventions in cancers. I then (2024-2025) carried out a MSc at Edinburgh, where I did my first rotation in the Hansen lab. Now curious to investigate the interactions between cancer cells, the ECM, and how we can take advantage of large data sets and the integration of AI with bioimaging. Exploring different locations and cultures is my favourite thing to do, though that does mean I have to miss my dogs back in Belgium.
Work, Work
——————-Alumni—————–
Siyang Jia – PhD student 2021 -2025
Sijang was a MSc student with us and then came back for more! Siyang was part funded by the CSC and was studying how the Hippo pathway regulates cancer onset and development.
Read about Siyang’s work
Here, Here, Here, Here, Here and Here
Shivangi Kailash – MSc student 2024-25
Hello, I’m Shivangi Kailash, currently a Master’s student at the University of Edinburgh. With a keen interest in cancer biology, I’m driven to unravel the science of neoplasms. While in the Hansen lab, I studied how the transcriptional complex of the Hippo pathway is regulated.
Krishna Purohit – PhD student Sep 2020 – 2024
Krishna have a BSc honours in Biochemistry and hold masters in Biochemistry (University of Edinburgh) and Bioinformatics and System Biology (University of Manchester). Krishna was a MRC Precision Medicine DTP student with us, focussing on investigating the role of cancer mutations using a novel omics technique called proteogenomics, with the aim of stratifying diagnosis and treatments for mesothelioma patients. Krishna has now submitted his thesis and successfully defended his viva, and moved onto a Post Doc at the Wellcome centre in Manchester.
Read about Krishna’s work here, here, here, here and here
Lisa Kölln – PhD student
(Based at the University of Strathclyde, Prof. Gail McConnell lab)
Lisa used advanced imaging techniques and machine learning approaches to develop new imaging modalities. Lisa spend most of her time in the lab of Prof Gail McConnell at the University of Strathclyde. Before Lisa moved to Scotland for her PhD, she finished my Master’s degree in Physics at the University of Potsdam.
Read about Lisa’s work
Susanna Riley – PhD student 2019 – 2023
Originally from rural West England, I completed a BA (Hons) in Cell and Systems Biology at the University of Oxford in 2017 before moving to the University of Edinburgh for an MSc by Research in Biomedical Sciences. I then began the Wellcome Trust PhD programme in Tissue Repair. My research in the Gram Hansen lab focussed on the role of the Hippo pathway in embryonic development and regeneration using the zebrafish.
Read about Dr Riley’s work and here
Susanna moved onto a PostDoc in Edinburgh, and is currently a scientist at Moredun.
Dr Omar M. Salem – MSc (2018), PhD student (2018-2021), and Post Doc 2022
“Born and raised in Egypt, I moved to the UK to continue my undergraduate studies. I received a First Class BSc (Hons) in Cell Biology from the University of Stirling. I later joined the University of Edinburgh for a MSc by Research in Biomedical Sciences. My PhD project (2018-2021) at the Gram Hansen lab was focused on studying the Hippo pathway regulation of Prostate Cancer development, progression and metastasis. He also worked on the Hippo pathway as a therapeutic target.”
Read about Omar’s work, here, here and here
Dr Salem went onto work as a Researcher at Artios, Cambridge UK
Dr Jiwon Park – PhD student (2017 – 2021)
“My research focused on the role of mechanotransduction signals in relation to the Hippo pathway. I completed my undergraduate degree in BSc (Hons) Biomedical sciences (Pharmacology) at the University of Edinburgh in 2017. After graduating, I started on the MRC-funded Precision Medicine Doctoral Training Programme in the Gram Hansen Lab. “
Read about Jiwon’s work doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.11.066
https://doi.org/10.15252/embj.2021108719
Dr Park then moved onto becoming a Patent attorney at Marks & Clerk.
Dr Valentina Rausch – PhD Student (2016 – 2019)
Alumni of the Gram Hansen Lab, revealed the interaction between the Hippo pathway and caveolae. Dr Rausch was the first PhD student in the lab, and handed her thesis in after 3 years and 18 days! Then moved onto an academic Post Doc.
Read about Valentina’s work while in Edinburgh
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.11.066,
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8910-2_8.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcb.2019.10.005.
MSc and Honours
- 2025 Karis Meldrum did her honours project with us. She received a strong first!
- 2024-2025 Shivanghi Kailash and Hailey Deckers both MScR 1st rotation Biomedical Sciences. Both received first class (distinction) MSc.
- 2024 Zenuida Mortuza (2023 Fall-Spring 2024), MSc. Received a first. Currently a RA within the IRR.
- 2022 Shijia Xia MScR 2nd project Biomedical Sciences. Obtained an overall distinction. Then moved to Hongkong for her PhD.
- 2022 Yue Lin MScR 2nd project, Biomedical Sciences. Also stayed on with us as an intern for three months. PhD student at Leicester University. Read about Yue’s work from when she was with us here and here
- 2020 Jon Corres (MScR) 2nd Project. Obtained overall a Distinction. Then moved on to becoming a PhD student back in Spain.
- 2020 Josh Martin (MScR) 2nd Project. Obtained overall a Distinction. Then moved onto becomming a PhD student at BARTS Cancer Center.
- 2019-2020 Emelie Shepherd (MScR) 1st Project. Obtained overall a Distinction. Now a DPhil Student, Oxford Ludwig Institute, Oxford University.
- 2018 Duncan Maclean (Honours student), then moved on to continuing his Medicine Degree at the University of Edinburgh.
- 2017 Tamara Hussain (Honours student), moved onto working at Charles River.
SUMMER INTERN
Michael Marcin, Summer Intern 2022. Awarded a Biochemical Society Stipend. Came back to us in Sep 2023 for a PhD studentship!
Size & Shape Biomechanics Lab: Probing the Hippo Pathway and Plasma Membrane Interface 