Genome Engineering • Developmental Biology • Mitochondrial Biology • Molecular Biology • Cell Biology
I am a life sciences researcher working at the intersection of genome editing, embryo development, and mitochondrial biology. In my spare time, I develop games, train machine learning models, and create computer-generated visuals.
Currently, I am conducting research on early embryo development in the labs of Prof. Mary Herbert at Newcastle University and Prof. Kathy Niakan at Cambridge University as part of the Wellcome Human Developmental Biology Initiative (HDBI). At the Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research I worked on mitochondrial donation (also known as mitochondrial replacement therapy or three-person IVF). During my PhD I developed an ex vivo gene therapy for epidermolysis bullosa simplex using gene editing.
Postdoctoral Researcher working on the Wellcome Human Developmental Biology Initiative (HDBI).
Advancement of genome editing technologies and their application to nuclear and mitochondrial DNA.
Rational and AI-driven protein engineering, including de novo protein design and the creation of novel enzymes.
AI-guided protein design, computational biology, and generative models for biological sequence, structure, and function.
Molecular and cellular mechanisms governing preimplantation development and lineage tracing.
Mechanisms of stem cell plasticity and regenerative capacity across developmental and adult contexts.
Molecular drivers of ageing and strategies for cellular rejuvenation, epigenetic reprogramming, and functional restoration.
Translational approaches to tissue repair and regeneration through genome engineering, stem cell technologies, and bioengineering.
Development of next-generation gene and cell therapies, including programmable genetic interventions and protein-based therapeutics.
Hyslop LA, Blakely EL, Aushev M, Marley J, Takeda Y, Pyle A, Moody E, Feeney C, Dutton J, Shaw C, Smith SJ, Craig K, Alston CL, Lister L, Endacott K, Byerley S, McDermott H, Wilson K, Botham L, Matthew B, Prathalingam N, Prior M, Murdoch A, Turnbull DM, Hudson G, Choudhary M, Taylor RW, Pillai RN, Stewart JA, McFarland R, Herbert M. (2025). 393, 438-449. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa241553
Cuevas-Ocaña S, Yang JY, Aushev M, Schlossmacher G, Bear CE, Hannan NRF, Perkins ND, Rossant J, Wong AP, Gray MA. (2023). 24, 10266. DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210266
Cavazza T, Takeda Y, Politi AZ, Aushev M, Aldag P, Baker C, Choudhary M, Bucevičius J, Lukinavičius G, Elder K, Blayney M, Lucas-Hahn A, Niemannn H, Herbert M, Schuh M. (2021). 184, 2860-2877. DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.04.013
Imahorn E, Aushev M, Herms S, Hoffmann P, Cichon S, Reichelt J, Itin P, Burger B. (2020). 10, 14952. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71889-9
Aushev M, Herbert M. (2020). 583, 521-522. DOI: 10.1038/d41586-020-01974-6
Renz P, Imahorn E, Spoerri I, Aushev M, March OP, Wariwoda H, von Arb S, Volz A, Itin PH, Reichelt J, Burger B. (2019). 23, 8442-8452. DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.14727
Aushev M, Koller U, Mussolino C, Cathomen T, Reichelt J. (2017). 6, 112-123. DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2017.06.008
I participated in a podcast series entitled Made the Same Way, a collaboration between Reform Radio (Manchester) and the Human Developmental Biology Initiative. In the podcast series, young artists and researchers come together and discuss science and music.
From super-resolution to 3D: a closer look at the human egg.
3D reconstruction and render of a human egg showing total mitochondrial content. The reconstruction was made by taking hundreds of images of a living human egg.
3D render of Streptococcus pyogenes CRISPR-Cas9 in complex with single-guided RNA and double-stranded DNA.
Together with Sevastianos Ntzokas I developed TurboJack, a fast-paced and dynamic 2D adventure platformer. A free demo of the game is available on Google Play Store.