Prof. Iain Mattaj

Biography

Professor Iain Mattaj was born in St Andrews, Scotland. He attended the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and after completing his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry (honours), he obtained his PhD from the University of Leeds, England. Following his PhD, Iain carried out postdoctoral research at the Friedrich Miescher Institute, Switzerland, then at the Biocentre, University of Basel, Switzerland. In 1985, he joined EMBL as a Group Leader at the Heidelberg laboratory. He became PhD 1979, University of Leeds, UK. Postdoctoral work at the Friedrich Miescher Institute and the Biocenter, Basel, Switzerland. Group Leader at EMBL since 1985. Programme Coordinator since 1990. Scientific Director of EMBL 1999-2005. Director General since 2005.Coordinator of the Gene Expression Unit at EMBL in 1990 before being promoted to the position of Scientific Director in 1999. Iain was appointed Director General of EMBL in May 2005. In addition to his leadership success at EMBL, Iain's own research achievements have been considerable and varied. His early work centred on a group of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) particles that function in the processing of messenger RNA precursors. His analyses of these RNPs spanned a variety of topics, including transcription of the RNA components, RNA-protein interactions, function of the RNPs in messenger RNA production and assembly of the RNPs from their component parts in vivo. This work led to numerous studies of transport of RNA and proteins between the cell nucleus and cytoplasm. Iain’s group identified numerous factors and mechanisms involved in this important process. Iain’s more recent work has demonstrated the critical role of the Ran GTPase in regulating mitotic events including spindle assembly, nuclear pore complex formation and nuclear envelope assembly. His prominent standing in the field was underlined by his election as President of the RNA Society and his award of the prestigious Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine in 2001

Research Interest

PhD 1979, University of Leeds, UK. Postdoctoral work at the Friedrich Miescher Institute and the Biocenter, Basel, Switzerland. Group Leader at EMBL since 1985. Programme Coordinator since 1990. Scientific Director of EMBL 1999-2005. Director General since 2005.