Staff Profile

Academic background: PhD in Medical Genetics, Newcastle University

Areas of expertise:

Muscular dystrophy

Gene therapy

Cell- and molecular biology

CRISPR/CAS9 screening

Haematology and Immunology

Cancer research

Muscular dystrophy-related fibrosis represents the predominant complication arising from muscle wasting chronic condition , yet currently, no therapy capable of ameliorating its consequences exists. Our aim is to elucidate specific signalling pathways governing the fibrogenic process and to identify potential small molecule candidates that can block or reduce the fibrogenic differentiation of fibro/adipogenic progenitors. Using in vitro and in vivo experiments , we are testing the efficacy of candidate drugs that we are testing in blocking fibrogenic differentiation. 

 As a dedicated scientist, my passion lies in the pursuit of effective treatments and potential cures for muscular dystrophy through innovative approaches. I am committed to contribute to advancements that hold promise for patients and their families. With this in mind, I aim to work on unravelling mechanisms underlying muscular dystrophy pathology. By understanding the complexities of fibrosis and genetic aberrations, we strive to develop targeted interventions that can halt disease progression and restore function.

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Google scholar: Click here.

• Articles

  • Grinev VV, Barneh F, Ilyushonak IM, Nakjang S, Smink J, van Oort A, Clough R, Seyani M, McNeill H, Reza M, Martinez-Soria N, Assi SA, Ramanouskaya TV, Bonifer C, Heidenreich O. RUNX1/RUNX1T1 mediates alternative splicing and reorganises the transcriptional landscape in leukemia. Nature Communications 2021, 12(1), 520.
  • Singh P, Heer M, Resteu A, Mikulasova A, Reza M, Largeaud L, Dufrechou S, Prade N, Dickinson RE, Bustamante J, Neven B, Bigley V, Delabesse E, Rico D, Pasquet M, Collin M. GATA2 deficiency phenotype associated with tandem duplication of GATA2 and overexpression of GATA2-AS1. Blood Advances 2021, 5(24), 5631-5635.
  • Martinez-Soria N, McKenzie L, Draper J, Ptasinska A, Issa H, Potluri S, Blair HJ, Pickin A, Isa A, Chin PS, Tirtakusuma R, Coleman D, Nakjang S, Assi S, Forster V, Reza M, Law E, Berry P, Mueller D, Elder A, Bomken SN, Pal D, Allan JM, Veal GJ, Cockerill PN, Wichmann C, Vormoor J, Lacaud G, Bonifer C, Heidenreich O. The Oncogenic Transcription Factor RUNX1/ETO Corrupts Cell Cycle Regulation to Drive Leukemic Transformation. Cancer Cell 2018, 34(4), 626-642.e8.
  • Reza M, Cox D, Phillips L, Johnson D, Manoharan V, Grieves M, Davis B, Roos A, Morgan J, Hanna MG, Muntoni F, Lochmuller H. MRC Centre Neuromuscular Biobank (Newcastle and London): Supporting and facilitating rare and neuromuscular disease research worldwide. Neuromuscular Disorders 2017, 27(11), 1054-1064.
  • Lourbakos A, Yau N, De Bruijn P, Hiller M, Kozaczynska K, Jean-Baptiste R, Reza M, Wolterbeek R, Koeks Z, Ayoglu B, De Klerk D, Campion G, Zaharieva I, Nadarajah VD, Nilsson P, Al-Khalili Szigyarto C, Muntoni F, Lochmuller H, Verschuuren JJ, Goemans N, Tulinius M, Niks EH, De Kimpe S, Aartsma-Rus A, T'Hoen PAC, Spitali P. Evaluation of serum MMP-9 as predictive biomarker for antisense therapy in Duchenne. Scientific Reports 2017, 7, 17888.
  • Reza M, Laval SH, Roos A, Carr S, Lochmuller H. Optimization of Internally Deleted Dystrophin Constructs. Human Gene Therapy Methods 2016, 27(5), 174-186.
  • Meng JH, Counsell JR, Reza M, Laval SH, Danos O, Thrasher A, Lochmuller H, Muntoni F, Morgan JE. Autologous skeletal muscle derived cells expressing a novel functional dystrophin provide a potential therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Scientific Reports 2016, 6, 19750.
  • Mora M, Angelini C, Bignami F, Bodin AM, Crimi M, Di Donato JH, Felice A, Jaeger C, KarCagi V, LeCam Y, Lynn S, Meznaric M, Moggio M, Monaco L, Politano L, de la Paz MP, Saker S, Schneiderat P, Ensini M, Garavaglia B, Gurwitz D, Johnson D, Muntoni F, Puymirat J, Reza M, Voit T, Baldo C, Bricarelli FD, Goldwurm S, Merla G, Pegoraro E, Renieri A, Zatloukal K, Filocamo M, Lochmuller H. The EuroBioBank Network: 10 years of hands-on experience of collaborative, transnational biobanking for rare diseases. European Journal of Human Genetics 2015, 23(9), 1116-1123.
  • Almalki A, Alston CL, Parker A, Simonic I, Mehta SG, He LP, Reza M, Oliveira JMA, Lightowlers RN, McFarland R, Taylor RW, Chrzanowska-Lightowlers ZMA. Mutation of the human mitochondrial phenylalanine-tRNA synthetase causes infantile-onset epilepsy and cytochrome c oxidase deficiency. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) Molecular Basis of Disease 2014, 1842(1), 56-64.
  • Boczonadi V, Muller JS, Pyle A, Munkley J, Dor T, Quartararo J, Ferrero I, Karcagi V, Giunta M, Polvikoski T, Birchall D, Princzinger A, Cinnamon Y, Lutzkendorf S, Piko H, Reza M, Florez L, Santibanez-Koref M, Griffin H, Schuelke M, Elpeleg O, Kalaydjieva L, Lochmuller H, Elliott DJ, Chinnery PF, Edvardson S, Horvath R. EXOSC8 mutations alter mRNA metabolism and cause hypomyelination with spinal muscular atrophy and cerebellar hypoplasia. Nature Communications 2014, 5, 4287.
  • Spendiff S, Reza M, Murphy JL, Gorman G, Blakely EL, Taylor RW, Horvath R, Campbell G, Newman J, Lochmüller H, Turnbull DM. Mitochondrial DNA deletions in muscle satellite cells: implications for therapies. Human Molecular Genetics 2013, 22(23), 4739-4747.
  • Dick E, Matsa E, Bispham J, Reza M, Guglieri M, Staniforth A, Watson S, Kumari R, Lochmuller H, Young L, Darling D, Denning C. Two new protocols to enhance the production and isolation of human induced pluripotent stem cell lines. Stem Cell Research 2011, 6(2), 158-167.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

  • Roos A, Cox D, Reza M, Guglieri M, Straub V, Lochmuller H. MRC biobank Newcastle - A five-year review of the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre experience. In: 21st International Congress of the World Muscle Society. 2016, Granada, Spain: Elsevier.
  • Lourbakos A, Hiller M, Kozaczynska K, Baptiste RJ, Reza M, Niks E, Koeks Z, de Klerk D, Wolterbeek R, Campion G, Nadarajah VD, Szigyarto CA, Calissano M, Muntoni F, Lochmuller H, Verschuuren JJGM, Goemans N, Tulinius M, de Kimpe S, Aartsma-Rus A, 't Hoen PAC, Spitali P. MMP-9 serum levels increase over time in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients and decrease upon treatment with drisapersen. In: ESGCT and NVGCT Collaborative Congress. 2014, The Hauge, The Netherlands: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Publishers.
  • Reza M, Laval SH, Counsell J, Muntoni F, Morgan J, Lochmuller H. Optimised dystrophin mini-constructs for gene delivery. In: 18th International Congress of the World Muscle Society. 2013, California, USA: Elsevier.
  • Reza M, Johnson D, Cox D, Laval S, Chaouch A, Barresi R, Morgan J, Bushby K, Straub V, Muntoni F, Lochmuller H. MRC NMD Centre Biobank: An overview. In: United Kingdom Neuromuscular Translational Research Conference. 2012, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Elsevier Ltd.
  • Spendiff S, Horvath R, Lochmüller H, Reza M, Murphy JL, Taylor RW, Turnbull DM. Mitochondrial DNA mutations in satellite cells. In: UK Neuromuscular Translational Research Conference. 2011, London: Neuromuscular Disorders: Pergamon.
  • Johnson D, Reza M, Morgan JE, Barresi R, Lochmuller H, Muntoni F. MRC NMD Biobank service: an overview. In: United Kingdom Neuromuscular Translational Research Conference. 2010, Oxford: Neuromuscular Disorders, Elsevier.
  • Spendiff S, Horvath R, Murphy JL, Taylor RW, Reza M, Lochmuller H, Turnbull DM. Finding the missing gap - mitochondrial DNA deletions in muscle stem cells. In: United Kingdom Neuromuscular Translational Research Conference 2010. 2010, Oxford: Neuromuscular Disorders, Elsevier.
  • Charlton R, Henderson M, Richards J, Hicks D, Reza M, Straub V, Lochmuller H, Bushby K, Barresi R. Chain-specific antibody testing of collagen VI: An additional pre-screening strategy for the diagnosis of Bethlem myopathy. In: Neuromuscular Disorders: 14th International Congress of the World Muscle Society. 2009, Geneva, Switzerland: Elsevier Ltd.