Niakan lab

Ana Elisa Ribeiro Orsi

PhD Student

Ana was born in Brazil, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree at the University of São Paulo. During her undergraduate studies, she was the recipient of the Sanger Prize and had the opportunity to carry out a research internship in Sarah Teichmann’s lab, where she analysed single-cell RNA sequencing datasets of the human lung. She then obtained a master’s degree working at Lygia Pereira’s lab at the University of São Paulo, with a research internship in Jun Wu’s lab at UT Southwestern. In her thesis she investigate in vitro models for the study of human X chromosome inactivation, including naïve pluripotent stem cells and blastoids. Her newly found passion for early development led her to join the Niakan and Boroviak labs in 2023 for her PhD studies. Ana is funded by a Loke CTR studentship and will be investigating the molecular mechanisms of hypoblast specification.

Qiulin Huang

PhD Student

Qiulin is a PhD student interested in exploring the molecular mechanisms regulating cell states and cell differentiation. His work in the Niakan lab particularly focuses on the regulation of pluripotency by transcription factors during the transition from naïve to primed pluripotency. He aspires to extend his findings in human development to regenerative biology to lay a solid foundation in this chaotic field.
He describes himself as a “blind elephant toucher,” but he is also interested in using multi-omic and systematic methods to construct the full picture of the “elephant.”
In recent years, Qiulin has developed a strong interest in machine learning, especially in machine reasoning and autonomous hypothesis generation. One of his current goals is to develop a method to autonomously explore the latent space of large language models (LLMs) trained on bioscience literature, in order to associate, correlate, and integrate existing knowledge into new knowledge. He believes that machine learning will be the ultimate tool to help us “see the elephant.

Publications

Simon, C.S., McCarthy, A., Woods, L., Staneva, D., Proks, M., Salehin, N., Lea, G.,
Huang, Q., Linneberg-Agerholm, M., Faulkner, A. and Papathanasiou, A., 2025. Suppression of ERK signalling promotes pluripotent epiblast in the human blastocyst. Nature Communications, 16(1), p.6922.

Bartlett, T.E., Li, M. and Huang, Q., 2024. Inferring gene regulatory networks using DNA methylation data. bioRxiv, pp.2024-04.

Alanis-Lobato, G., Bartlett, T.E., Huang, Q.*, Simon, C.S., McCarthy, A., Elder, K., Snell, P., Christie, L. and Niakan, K.K., 2024. MICA: a multi-omics method to predict gene regulatory networks in early human embryos. Life Science Alliance, 7(1).

Dr. Desislava Staneva

Postdoctoral Fellow

Desi, originally from Bulgaria, completed her BSc in Molecular Biology at the University of Edinburgh. She remained in Edinburgh for her PhD during which she studied the mechanisms of gene regulation in the sleeping sickness-causing parasite Trypanosoma brucei. Desi joined the Niakan lab as a postdoc in 2022 to study the role of epigenetic modification and transcription factors in early mammalian development.

Publications

Simon CS, McCarthy A, Woods L, Staneva D, Huang Q, Linneberg-Agerholm M, Faulkner A, Papathanasiou A, Elder K, Snell P, Christie L, Garcia P, Shaikly V, Taranissi M, Choudhary M, Herbert M, Brickman JM, Niakan KK (2024) Suppression of ERK signalling promotes pluripotent epiblast in the human blastocyst. bioRxiv 2024.02.01.578414. doi: 10.1101/2024.02.01.578414.

Staneva DP, Bresson S, Auchynnikava T, Spanos C, Rappsilber J, Jeyaprakash AA, Tollervey D, Matthews KR and Allshire RC (2022) The SPARC complex defines RNAPII promoters in Trypanosoma brucei. eLife 11: e83135.

Staneva DP*, Carloni R*, Auchynnikava T, Tong P, Rappsilber J, Jeyaprakash AA, Matthews KR and Allshire RC (2021) A systematic analysis of Trypanosoma brucei chromatin factors identifies novel protein interaction networks associated with sites of transcription initiation and termination. Genome Research 31: 2138-2154.

Bresson S, Tuck A, Staneva D and Tollervey D (2017) Nuclear RNA decay pathways aid rapid remodeling of gene expression in yeast. Molecular Cell 65: 787-800.e5.

Dr. Katarina Harasimov

EMBO Postdoctoral Fellow

Katarina is a cell biologist dedicated to uncovering the fundamental principles that shape early embryonic development in mammals. Her research is generously supported by the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO).

Publications

Harasimov, K., Gorry, R.L., Welp, L.M., Penir, S.M., Horokhovskyi, Y., Cheng, S., Takaoka, K., Stützer, A., Frombach, A.-S., Tavares, A.L.T., et al. (2024). The maintenance of oocytes in the mammalian ovary involves extreme protein longevity. Nature Cell Biology, 1–15. 

Harasimov, K., Uraji, J., Mönnich, E.U., Holubcová, Z., Elder, K., Blayney, M., and Schuh, M. (2023). Actin-driven chromosome clustering facilitates fast and complete chromosome capture in mammalian oocytes. Nature Cell Biology 25, 439–452. 

So, C., Menelaou, K., Uraji, J., Harasimov, K., Steyer, A.M., Seres, K.B., Bucevičius, J., Lukinavičius, G., Möbius, W., Sibold, C., et al. (2022). Mechanism of spindle pole organization and instability in human oocytes. Science 375, eabj3944. 

Cheng, S., Altmeppen, G., So, C., Welp, L.M., Penir, S., Ruhwedel, T., Menelaou, K., Harasimov, K., Stützer, A., Blayney, M., et al. (2022). Mammalian oocytes store mRNAs in a mitochondria-associated membraneless compartment. Science 378, eabq4835. 

Harasimov, K., and Schuh, M. (2018). Actin Disassembly: How to Contract without Motors? Curr Biol 28, R275–R277.

Josephine Blagrove

Cambridge Biosciences DTP PhD Student

The evolution of gene expression in the primitive endoderm, a transient early extra-embryonic tissue, and the structure it ultimately contributes to, the yolk sac, is largely uncharacterised. The yolk sac provides nutrition to the developing embryo before the placenta takes over. Furthermore, it is vital for organ patterning, haemopoiesis, and gut development in many vertebrates.

Jo’s research aims to characterise the development of primitive endoderm into the yolk sac across a broad range of vertebrate species using transcriptomics and functional genetics studies.

Publications

Lewin, T., Blagrove, J. and Holland, P. (2023). Rapid evolution of the embryonically expressed homeobox gene LEUTX within primates. Genome Biology and Evolution, 15(6), https://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evad097.

Wynn, J., Arcos, J., Austin, R., Blagrove, J., Bond, S., Carrasco, G., Delord, K., Fisher-Reeves, L., García, D., Gillies, N., Guilford, T., Hawkins, I., Jaggers, P., Kirk, C., Louzao, M., Maurice, L., McMinn, M., Micol, T., Morford, J., Morgan, G., Moss, J., Riera, E., Rodriguez, A., Siddiqi-Davies, K., Weimerskirch, H., Wynn, R., Padget, O. (2024). Climate change drives migratory range shift via individual plasticity in shearwaters. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 121(6). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2312438121.

Prof. Kathy Niakan

Kathy Niakan is Mary Marshall and Arthur Walton Professor of the Physiology of Reproduction and Director of the Loke Centre for Trophoblast Research. She is also Co-Chair of the Cambridge Reproduction Interdisciplinary Research Centre. Kathy is an Honorary Group Leader at the Babraham Institute and Affiliate Member of the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute.

Kathy obtained a B.Sc. in Cell and Molecular Biology and a B.A. in English Literature from University of Washington. She obtained her PhD at University of California, Los Angeles, supported by a National Institutes of Health Pre-doctoral Training Grant, Paul D. Boyer Fellowship and a Chancellor’s Dissertation Year Fellowship. She undertook postdoctoral training at Harvard University where she developed an interest in early human development. She was a Loke Centre for Trophoblast Research Next Generation Research Fellow at University of Cambridge.

Kathy started her laboratory in 2013 with a focus on mechanisms regulating early human development at the MRC National Institute for Medical Research and subsequently the Francis Crick Institute. Kathy’s research, policy advocacy, mentorship and engagement have been recognised, for example with the award of the Genetics Society Mary Lyon Medal, election to EMBO membership, International Society for Stem Cell Research Public Service Award, Cambridge University Excellence in Research Culture, Blavatnik Award in Life Sciences Finalist and the London Science Museum retaining our research licence in their permanent collection.

Dr. Tom Rawlings

Next Generation Fellow

Tom is a reproductive biologist and Next Generation Research Fellow sponsored by Prof. Kathy Niakan at the University of Cambridge. He completed his PhD in Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research at the University of Warwick, where he developed his expertise in endometrial biology under the supervision of Professor Jan Brosens. His research centres on patient-specific endometrial assembloid models to investigate recurrent miscarriage and embryo–endometrium interactions. Specifically, he aims to understand how intrinsic uterine mechanisms hardwire miscarriage recurrence risk, with the goal of developing pre-pregnancy diagnostics and therapeutics.

Publications

Muter, J., Kong, CS., Nebot, M., Tryfonos, M., Vrljicak, P., Brighton, PJ., Dimakou, DB., Vickers, M., Yoshihara, H., Ott, S., Tan, BK., Bennett, PR., Quenby, S., Richter, A., Van de Velde, H., Lucas, ES., Rawlings, TM., Brosens, JJ., Stalling of the endometrial decidual reaction determines the recurrence risk of miscarriage, Science Advances, 2025

Salisbury, E., Rawlings, TM., Efstathiou, S., Tryfonos, M., Makwana, K., Fitzgerald, HC., Gargett, C., Cameron, NR., Haddleton, D., Brosens, JJ., Eissa, AM. Photo-Cross-linked Gelatin Methacryloyl Hydrogels Enable the Growth of Primary Human Endometrial Stromal Cells and Epithelial Gland Organoids, ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2024

Fernández, L., Kong, CS., Alkhoury, M., Tryfonos, M., Brighton, PJ., Rawlings, TM., Muter, J., Soledad Gori, M., Pérez Leirós, C., Lucas, ES., Brosens, JJ., Ramhorst R., The endoplasmic reticulum protein HSPA5/BiP is essential for decidual transformation of human endometrial stromal cells, Scientific Reports, 2024

Rawlings, TM., Tryfonos, M., Makwana, K., Taylor, D.M., Brosens, J.J., Lucas, E.S. Endometrial Assembloids to Model Human Embryo Implantation In Vitro. In: Zernicka-Goetz, M., Turksen, K. (eds) Embryo Models In Vitro. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2767. Humana, New York, NY. 2023

Rawlings TM, Makwana K, Taylor DM, Molè MA, Fishwick KJ, Tryfonos M, Odendaal J, Hawkes A, Zernicka-Goetz M, Hartshorne GM, Brosens JJ, Lucas ES. Modelling the impact of decidual senescence on embryo implantation in human endometrial assembloids. eLife, 2021

Rawlings, TM., Makwana, K., Tryfonos, M., & Lucas, E. S. Organoids to model the endometrium: implantation and beyond, Reproduction and Fertility, 2021

Diniz-da-Costa M, Kong CS, Fishwick KJ, Rawlings TM, Brighton PJ, Hawkes A, Odendaal J, Quenby S, Ott S, Lucas ES, Vrljicak P, Brosens JJ. Characterization of highly proliferative decidual precursor cells during the window of implantation in human endometrium. Stem Cells, 2021

Richardson, SA., Rawlings, TM., Muter, J., Walker, M., Brosens, JJ., Cameron, NR., Eissa, A., Covalent Attachment of Fibronectin onto Emulsion‐Templated Porous Polymer Scaffolds Enhances Human Endometrial Stromal Cell Adhesion, Infiltration, and Function, Macromolecular Bioscience, 2018

Dr. Riley McMahon

Postdoctoral Fellow

Riley completed his PhD at the University of Sydney, investigating gene regulatory networks in embryonic head development. Riley joined the Niakan Lab as a postdoc, his project focusses on the genetic determinants of yolk-sac progenitor development in pre-implantation mammalian embryos.

Publications

Brumm, S., McCarthy, A., Gerri, C., Fallesen, T., Wood, L., McMahon, R.,…. Kathy K Niakan (2024) Initiation and maintenance of the human pre-implantation epiblast is independent of NODAL signalling, Developmental Cell, 15:S1534-5807(24)00639-7, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39561779/

McMahon, R., Masamsetti, V. P., & Tam, P. P. (2023). Phenotypic Analysis of Early Neurogenesis in a Mouse Chimeric Embryo and Stem Cell-Based Neuruloid Model. In Neurobiology: Methods and Protocols (pp. 165-177). New York, NY: Springer US.

McMahon, R., Sibbritt, T., Aryamanesh, N., Masamsetti, V. P., & Tam, P. P. (2022). Loss of Foxd4 Impacts Neurulation and Cranial Neural Crest Specification During Early Head Development. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology, 9, 777652-777652. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35178396/

McMahon, R., Sibbritt, T., Salehin, N., Osteil, P., & Tam, P. P. (2019). Mechanistic insights from the LHX1‐driven molecular network in building the embryonic head. Development, growth & differentiation, 61(5), 327-336 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31111476/

Esther Rosales Sanchez

Lab Manager

niakan-lab-manager(at)pdn.cam.ac.uk

Esther ensures smooth lab operations by organizing the lab, managing inventory, liaising with various support teams, making sure we are compliant and up to date with our health and safety policies and coordinating the procurement of consumables and equipment. She is also the primary point of contact for onboarding new team members, ensuring they feel welcomed and supported as they transition into the lab environment. Finally, she likes organizing social events that contribute to a positive workplace culture.

Her approach combines efficiency, attention to detail, and a commitment to creating a well-organized, inclusive, and dynamic lab environment that supports both scientific discovery and team cohesion.

Dr. Tereza Cindrova-Davies

Licensing Manager

Tereza Cindrova-Davies received her MPhil and PhD from the University of Cambridge. Tereza worked as a research fellow at the University of Cambridge between 2003-2022, held a lectureship in Human Genetics and Developmental Biology/Embryology at the Queen Mary University of London between 2022-2023, before returning back to the Centre of Trophoblast Research in January 2024 to take on the role of the Licensing Manager. Tereza has been awarded international prizes for her research, including the Elsevier Science New Investigator Award at the IFPA meeting in Glasgow in 2005, and the Gabor Than award for ‘outstanding contributions to the field of placentology in all its aspects’, at the IFPA meeting in Graz in 2008. Tereza’s research has embraced the role of oxidative stress in normal and pathological pregnancies, placental senescence and H2S in pregnancy pathologies. Early pregnancy is a key area of Tereza’s current research interests. Her recent research concentrates on investigating early placental development, the role of the uterine glands, human yolk sac and histotrophic nutrition. Tereza has been instrumental in developing human and mouse organoid cultures, and used these to investigate the function of the endometrial glands in early pregnancy. In addition, she recently succeeded in deriving physiologically relevant endometrial organoid cultures non-invasively from menstrual flow. Her future research is directed to explore why the majority of human pregnancies fail, either before implantation or as a result of early pregnancy loss.

Publications
Cindrova-Davies T, Sferruzzi-Perri A. (2022) Human placental development and function. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.03.039

Cindrova-Davies T, Zhao X, Elder K, Moffett A, Burton GJ, Turco MY. (2021) Menstrual flow as a non-invasive source of endometrial organoids. Communications Biology. 4(1), 651

Cindrova-Davies T, Jauniaux E, Elliot MG, Gong S, Burton GJ, Charnock-Jones DS (2017). RNA-seq reveals conservation of function among the yolk sacs of human, mouse, and chicken. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.; 114(24):E4753-E4761. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1702560114.

Burton GJ, Jauniaux E, Cindrova-Davies T, Turco MY. (2025) The human gestational sac as a choriovitelline placenta during early pregnancy; the secondary yolk sac and organoid models. Developmental Biology 518, 28–36

Lu L, Kingdom J, Burton GJ, Cindrova-Davies T (2017). Placental stem villus arterial remodelling associated with reduced hydrogen sulphide synthesis contributes to human fetal growth restriction. Am J Pathol;187:908-920

Cindrova-Davies T, Fogarty NME, Jones CJP, Kingdom J, Burton GJ (2018). Evidence of oxidative stress-induced senescence in mature, post-mature and pathological human placentas. Placenta. 68:15-22. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2018.06.307. Epub 2018 Jun 19.

Prater M, Hamilton RS, Yung HW, Sharkey AM, Robson P, Jauniaux E, Charnock-Jones DS, Burton GJ, Cindrova-Davies T. (2021) RNA-Seq reveals changes in human placental metabolism, transport and endocrinology function in the first-second trimester transition. Biology Open. 10(6), bio058222

Turco MY, Gardner L, Hughes J, Cindrova-Davies T, Gomez MJ, Farrell L, Marsh SGE, Brosens JJ, Critchley HO, Simons BD, Hemberger M, Koo BK, Moffett A, Burton GJ (2017). Hormone-responsive organoid cultures of human endometrium. Nature Cell Biol; 19:568-577

Cindrova-Davies T, Herrera EA, Niu Y, Kingdom J, Giussani DA, Burton GJ (2013). Reduced cystathionine γ-lyase and increased miR-21 are associated with increased vascular resistance in growth-restricted pregnancies: hydrogen sulfide as a placental vasodilator. Am J Pathol;182(4):1448-58.

Cindrova-Davies T, Yung H-W, Johns J, Spasic-Boskovic O, Korolchuk S, Jauniaux E, Burton GJ and Charnock-Jones DS (2007). Oxidative stress, gene expression and protein changes induced in the human placenta during labor. Am. J. Pathol.; 171: 1168-1179.