Cathy Merry

I am Professor of Stem Cell Glycobiology at the Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, UK, with an area of expertise in matrix biology, proteoglycans and developmental biology. I lead a lively, dynamic, interdisciplinary research group that is discovering previously unknown mechanistic regulation of cell behaviour by glycans in health and disease and, more broadly, the role of the pericellular matrix in controlling cell behaviour. To do this, we create stem cell-based tools and novel 3D culture environments that now support large collaborative research projects in cancer and inherited rare disease modelling. I am the deputy associate pro-vice chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, and I have a particular interest in improving research culture and creating an inclusive research environment. I currently sit on the board of the National Centre for the Refinement, Replacement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) in the UK and am passionate about improving the quality of in vitro alternatives to the use of animals in research. In 2023, we founded a spin-out company, Peptimatrix, with support from BBSRC-ICURe which provides access to non-animal derived in vitro matrices. John Curd, who was a PhD in my group is now the CEO of the company.