Dr Sassan Hafizi
Summary
I am Associate Professor in Cell and Molecular Biology at the School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences. In addition to my other academic roles (see other sections), I have reviewed submissions for dozens of scientific journals and research grant applications. I am presently Executive Editor for the journal Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports, Reviews Editor for Frontiers in Drug Discovery, and Associate/Special Issues Editor for Cells (Basel). I am also a member of the Grants Committee of the Biochemical Society. I also regularly communicate my research, as well as our School's courses, at external outreach events (schools, charities, funder's events).
Biography
I have a BSc in Biochemistry from Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, University of London. I then obtained a PhD in cellular pharmacology from the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, under the supervision of Prof Sir Magdi Yacoub. Following this, I became an EU Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at Lund University, Sweden, working with Prof. Björn Dahlbäck on the molecular mechanisms of Gas6/TAM signalling in cells. I continued my research under a further postdoctoral fellowship and then as an independent investigator (Docent) at Lund University. In 2009, I joined the University of Portsmouth as Senior Lecturer, and in September 2017 I was promoted to Reader in Cell and Molecular Biology.
Research interests
1) Gas6-TAM ligand-receptor signalling and its role in normal and pathophysiological cell biology, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. The latter research has been funded in part by the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
2) Intracellular signalling via the Tensin family proteins in normal and cancer cell biology.
For further information about my research please visit my lab page.
Further information is also avilable on LinkedIn, ResearchGate and ORCID.
Current and past research project supervision: PhD, Prof Doc in biomedical science, PhD by Publication, MRes, MSc, undergraduate research placements (incl Wellcome), international research placements (e.g. ERASMUS, Brazilian 'Science without Borders').
I welcome enquiries and applications from students wishing to be supervised on PhD or MRes projects within the areas of research descibed above.
Teaching responsibilities
I teach on multiple modules across all courses within the School: BSc Pharmacology, BSc Biomedical Science, MPharmacy, MSc Medical Biotechnology.
I am module co-ordinator for the following: (i) Final year Project (BSc Pharmacology, BSc Biomedical Science) (40 credits), (ii) Research-Based Work Experience (BSc Pharmacology, BSc Biomedical Science)(40 credits), (iii) Molecular Medicine (MSc Medical Biotechnology)(30 credits); (iv) Pharmacology Work Placement Year (120 credits).
Research outputs
2025
Bioinformatic RNA-Seq functional profiling of the tumor suppressor gene OPCML in ovarian cancers: the multifunctional, pleiotropic impacts of having three Ig domains
Marsh, A. G., Görtler, F., Hafizi, S., Gabra, H.
1 Jun 2025, In: Current Issues in Molecular Biology. 47, 6, 19p., 405
Research output: Article
Vitamin K1 administration increases the level of circulating carboxylated osteocalcin in critically ill patients
Aydin, N., Kander, T., Schött, U., Hafizi, S.
19 Jan 2025, In: Nutrients. 17, 2, p. 1-13, 13p., 348
Research output: Article
2024
Filtering efficiency and design properties of medical- and non-medical-grade face masks: a multiscale modeling approach
Rasekh, M., Pisapia, F., Hafizi, S., Rees, D.
1 Jun 2024, In: Applied Sciences. 14, 11, 20p., 4796
Research output: Article
Modification of Gas6 protein in the brain by a functional endogenous tissue vitamin K cycle
Aydin, N., Ouliass, B., Ferland, G., Hafizi, S.
18 May 2024, In: Cells. 13, 10, 20p., 873
Research output: Article
2022
Transient regulation of focal adhesion via Tensin3 is required for nascent oligodendrocyte differentiation
Merour, E., Hmidan, H., Marie, C., Helou, P., Lu, H., Potel, A., Hure, J., Clavairoly, A., Shih, Y. P., Goudarzi, S., Dussaud, S., Ravassard, P., Hafizi, S., Lo, S. H., Hassan, B. A., Parras, C.
10 Oct 2022, In: eLife. 11, 34p., e80273
Research output: Article
The first laminin G-like domain of protein S is essential for binding and activation of Tyro3 receptor and intracellular signalling
Al Kafri, N., Ahnström, J., Teraz-Orosz, A., Chaput, L., Singh, N., Villoutreix, B. O., Hafizi, S.
1 Jul 2022, In: Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports. 30, 11p., 101263
Research output: Article
2021
Identification of signalling pathways activated by Tyro3 that promote cell survival, proliferation and invasiveness in human cancer cells
Al Kafri, N., Hafizi, S.
1 Dec 2021, In: Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports. 28, 10p., 101111
Research output: Article
Gas6/TAM signalling negatively regulates inflammatory induction of GM-CSF in mouse brain microglia
Gilchrist, S. E., Pennelli, G. M., Hafizi, S.
24 Nov 2021, In: Cells. 10, 12, 14p., 3281
Research output: Article
Inhibition of DCLK1 with DCLK1-in-1 suppresses renal cell carcinoma invasion and stemness and promotes cytotoxic T-cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity
Ding, L., Yang, Y., Ge, Y., Lu, Q., Yan, Z., Chen, X., Du, J., Hafizi, S., Xu, X., Yao, J., Liu, J., Cao, Z., Weygant, N.
16 Nov 2021, In: Cancers. 13, 22, 19p., 5729
Research output: Article
Functional succinate dehydrogenase deficiency is a common adverse feature of clear cell renal cancer
Aggarwal, R. K., Luchtel, R. A., Machha, V., Tischer, A., Zou, Y., Pradhan, K., Ashai, N., Ramachandra, N., Albanese, J. M., Yang, J., Wang, X., Aluri, S., Gordon, S., Aboumohamed, A., Gartrell, B. A.,
28 Sep 2021, In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 118, 39, 12p., e2106947118
Research output: Article