Dr Anestis Tsakiridis

School of Biosciences

Senior Lecturer

Profile photo of Anestis Tsakiridis
Profile picture of Profile photo of Anestis Tsakiridis
a.tsakiridis@sheffield.ac.uk
Alfred Denny Building

Full contact details

Dr Anestis Tsakiridis
School of Biosciences
Alfred Denny Building
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN
Profile
  • 2020-present: Lecturer
  • 2016-2019: Vice Chancellor's Fellow
  • 2009-2015: Post-doctoral researcher, MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh (Advisor: Prof. Val Wilson)
  • 2006-2009: Post-doctoral researcher, Institute for Stem Cell Research, University of Edinburgh (Advisor: Prof. Josh Brickman)
  • 2002-2006: PhD, University of Edinburgh (Advisors: Prof. Lesley Forrester, Prof. Josh Brickman)
  • 2001-2002: MSc (Res), University of Edinburgh
  • 1998-2001: BSc (Hons), University of Edinburgh
Research interests

My group aims to understand how human embryonic cells adopt different fates as they transit from pluripotency to lineage commitment, and exploit this knowledge for regenerative medicine and disease modelling applications. We focus particularly on defining the determinants of anteroposterior (A-P) axial identity (i.e. the position cells occupy along the head-tail axis) and how this influences cell fate decision-making in various multipotent progenitors of the central and peripheral nervous system. To address our questions we employ predominantly human pluripotent stem cell (hPSCs) differentiation as an in vitro model of early human embryonic development and utilise protocols we have recently established for the production of spinal cord progenitors and neural crest cells (the precursors of various specialised cell types including peripheral neurons) that correspond to distinct axial levels.
Current projects in our lab include:

  1. Understanding how various cellular components of the trunk (e.g. motor neurons, paraxial mesoderm, trunk neural crest) are derived from multipotent axial progenitors
  2. Defining the molecular/signalling basis of A-P axial identity acquisition/maintenance in distinct neural cell types
  3. Deciphering the molecular/signalling logic of cell fate decisions in vagal neural crest derivatives focusing on the enteric nervous system
  4. Determining how abnormal trunk neural crest development is linked to the initiation of neuroblastoma, the most common extra-cranial solid tumour of childhood
Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Journal articles

  • Frith TJR & Tsakiridis A (2019) . Current Protocols in Stem Cell Biology.
  • Tsakiridis A & Wilson V (2015) . F1000Research, 4.
  • Tsakiridis A, Huang Y, Blin G, Skylaki S, Wymeersch F, Osorno R, Economou C, Karagianni E, Zhao S, Lowell S & Wilson V (2015) . Development, 142(4), 809-809.
  • Gouti M, Tsakiridis A, Wymeersch FJ, Huang Y, Kleinjung J, Wilson V & Briscoe J (2014) . PLoS Biology, 12(8).
  • Tsakiridis A, Huang Y, Blin G, Skylaki S, Wymeersch F, Osorno R, Economou C, Karagianni E, Zhao S, Lowell S & Wilson V (2014) . Development, 141(6), 1209-1221.
  • Huang Y, Osorno R, Tsakiridis A & Wilson V (2012) . Cell Reports, 2(6), 1571-1578.
  • Frith TJR, Granata I, Wind M, Stout E, Thompson O, Neumann K, Stavish D, Heath PR, Ortmann D, Hackland JOS , Anastassiadis K et al () . eLife, 7.

All publications

Journal articles

  • Wong FCK, Zhang M, Thomson E, Schumacher LJ, Tsakiridis A, Ashmore J, Li T, Blin G, Karagianni E, Mullin NP , Chambers I et al (2025) . The EMBO Journal, 44(19), 5337-5374.
  • Fang W, Cheng B, Pastor SJ, Barbaric I, Tsakiridis A, Porras T, Wu H-W, Parekh C, Asgharzadeh S, Maris JM & Huang M (2025) . Cancer Research, 85(8_Supplement_1), 2600-2600.
  • Jevans B, Cooper F, Fatieieva Y, Gogolou A, Kang Y-N, Restuadi R, Moulding D, Vanden Berghe P, Adameyko I, Thapar N , Andrews PW et al (2024) . Gut, 73(9), 1441-1453.
  • Saldana-Guerrero IM, Montano-Gutierrez LF, Boswell K, Hafemeister C, Poon E, Shaw LE, Stavish D, Lea RA, Wernig-Zorc S, Bozsaky E , Fetahu IS et al (2024) . Nature Communications, 15(1).
  • Cooper F, Souilhol C, Haston S, Gray S, Boswell K, Gogolou A, Frith TJR, Stavish D, James BM, Bose D , Dale JK et al (2024) . Development, 151(3).
  • (2024) . Development, 151(3).
  • Saldana-Guerrero IM, Montano-Gutierrez LF, Hafemeister C, Stavish D, Shaw LE, Fetahu IS, Wenninger-Weinzierl A, Sturtzel C, Souilhol C, Tarelli S , Shoeb MR et al (2023) . Cancer Research, 83(7_Supplement), 3542-3542.
  • Gogolou A, Souilhol C, Granata I, Wymeersch FJ, Manipur I, Wind M, Frith TJR, Guarini M, Bertero A, Bock C , Halbritter F et al (2022) . eLife, 11.
  • Cooper F & Tsakiridis A (2022) . Developmental Biology, 489, 110-117.
  • Cooper F & Tsakiridis A (2022) . Biochemical Society Transactions, 50(1), 499-511.
  • Wind M & Tsakiridis A (2021) . Current Protocols, 1(9).
  • Gogolou A, Frith TJR & Tsakiridis A (2021) . Current Protocols, 1(6).
  • Wind M, Gogolou A, Manipur I, Granata I, Butler L, Andrews PW, Barbaric I, Ning K, Guarracino MR, Placzek M & Tsakiridis A (2021) . Development, 148(6).
  • Wymeersch FJ, Wilson V & Tsakiridis A (2021) . Development, 148(4).
  • Frith TJR, Gogolou A, Hackland JOS, Hewitt ZA, Moore HD, Barbaric I, Thapar N, Burns AJ, Andrews PW, Tsakiridis A & McCann CJ (2020) . Stem Cell Reports, 15(3), 557-565.
  • Ruske LJ, Kursawe J, Tsakiridis A, Wilson V, Fletcher AG, Blythe RA & Schumacher LJ (2020) . Physical Biology, 17(6).
  • Frith TJR & Tsakiridis A (2019) . Current Protocols in Stem Cell Biology.
  • Sutherland L, Ruhe M, Gattegno-Ho D, Mann K, Greaves J, Koscielniak M, Meek S, Lu Z, Waterfall M, Taylor R , Tsakiridis A et al (2018) . Journal of Cell Science, 131(18).
  • Lopez-Yrigoyen M, Fidanza A, Cassetta L, Axton RA, Taylor AH, Meseguer-Ripolles J, Tsakiridis A, Wilson V, Hay DC, Pollard JW & Forrester LM (2018) . Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences, 373(1750).
  • Economou C, Tsakiridis A, Wymeersch FJ, Gordon-Keylock S, Dewhurst RE, Fisher D, Medvinsky A, Smith AJH & Wilson V (2015) . BMC Developmental Biology, 15(1).
  • Tsakiridis A & Wilson V (2015) . F1000Research, 4.
  • Tsakiridis A, Huang Y, Blin G, Skylaki S, Wymeersch F, Osorno R, Economou C, Karagianni E, Zhao S, Lowell S & Wilson V (2015) . Development, 142(4), 809-809.
  • Gouti M, Tsakiridis A, Wymeersch FJ, Huang Y, Kleinjung J, Wilson V & Briscoe J (2014) . PLoS Biology, 12(8).
  • Tsakiridis A, Huang Y, Blin G, Skylaki S, Wymeersch F, Osorno R, Economou C, Karagianni E, Zhao S, Lowell S & Wilson V (2014) . Development, 141(6), 1209-1221.
  • Huang Y, Osorno R, Tsakiridis A & Wilson V (2012) . Cell Reports, 2(6), 1571-1578.
  • Osorno R, Tsakiridis A, Wong F, Cambray N, Economou C, Wilkie R, Blin G, Scotting PJ, Chambers I & Wilson V (2012) . Journal of Cell Science, 125(12), e1-e1.
  • Osorno R, Tsakiridis A, Wong F, Cambray N, Economou C, Wilkie R, Blin G, Scotting PJ, Chambers I & Wilson V (2012) . Development, 139(13), 2288-2298.
  • Tan CL, Tsakiridis A, Noor DAM, Walker DA, Wilson V & Scotting PJ (2012) REASSESSING THE ORIGINS OF INTRACRANIAL GERM CELL TUMOUR FORMATION. PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER, 59(6), 1089-1089.
  • Brickman JM, Tsakiridis A, To C & Stanford WL (2010) , 271-295.
  • Tsakiridis A, Tzouanacou E, Rahman A, Colby D, Axton R, Chambers I, Wilson V, Forrester L & Brickman JM (2009) . Nucleic Acids Research, 37(19).
  • Tsakiridis A, Alexander LM, Gennet N, Sanchez-Martin RM, Livigni A, Li M, Bradley M & Brickman JM (2009) . Biomaterials, 30(29), 5853-5861.
  • Sanchez‐Martin RM, Alexander L, Muzerelle M, Cardenas‐Maestre JM, Tsakiridis A, Brickman JM & Bradley M (2009) . ChemBioChem, 10(9), 1453-1456.
  • Tsakiridis A, Tzouanacou E, Larralde O, Watts TM, Wilson V, Forrester L & Brickman JM (2007) . genesis, 45(6), 353-360.
  • Frith TJR, Granata I, Wind M, Stout E, Thompson O, Neumann K, Stavish D, Heath PR, Ortmann D, Hackland JOS , Anastassiadis K et al () . eLife, 7.
  • Tsakiridis A & Wilson V () . F1000Research, 4, 100-100.

Conference proceedings

  • Kaviani RS, Shiryaeva M, Souilhol C, Wind M, Tsakiridis A & Luttge R (2023) Enhancing neuronal cell network organization and activity using NOA81 and PDMS nanogrooves. TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A, Vol. 29(13-14)
  • Frith TJR, McCann C, Gogolou A, Thapar N, Tsakiridis A, Burns A & Andrews PW (2019) . Human Gene Therapy, Vol. 30(8) (pp P02-P02). Sheffield, UK, 19 June 2019 - 19 June 2019.
  • Wymeersch F, Skylaki S, Huang Y, Tsakiridis A, Economou C, Marek-Johnson C, Tomlinson S & Wilson V (2017) . Mechanisms of Development, Vol. 145 (pp S82-S82)
  • Tsakiridis A, Tzouanacou E, Rahman A, Axton R, Wilson V, Forrester L & Brickman J (2009) . Mechanisms of Development, Vol. 126 (pp S280-S280)

Preprints

  • Harron KL, Jevans B, Allin BSR, Davidson JR, Tsakiridis A, Andrews PW, De Coppi P & McCann CJ (2025) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Jevans B, Cooper F, Peruzza L, Perin S, Li S, McAteer T, De Coppi P, Andrews PW, Tsakiridis A & McCann CJ (2025) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Jevans B, Cooper F, Fatieieva Y, Gogolou A, Kang Y-N, Restuadi R, Berghe PV, Adameyko I, Thapar N, Andrews PW , Coppi PD et al (2023) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Cooper F, Souilhol C, Haston S, Gray S, Boswell K, Gogolou A, Frith T, Stavish D, James BM, Bose D , Dale JK et al (2023) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Butler L, Adamson KI, Johnson SL, Jestice LH, Price CJ, Stavish D, Pooranachandran N, Malicki JJ, Tsakiridis A, Grierson AJ & Barbaric I (2022) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Gogolou A, Souilhol C, Granata I, Wymeersch FJ, Manipur I, Wind M, Frith TJR, Guarini M, Bertero A, Bock C , Halbritter F et al (2021) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Wind M, Gogolou A, Manipur I, Granata I, Butler L, Andrews PW, Barbaric I, Ning K, Guarracino MR, Placzek M & Tsakiridis A (2020) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Ruske LJ, Kursawe J, Tsakiridis A, Wilson V, Fletcher AG, Blythe RA & Schumacher LJ (2020) , arXiv.
  • Frith TJR, Gogolou A, Hackland JOS, Barbaric I, Thapar N, Burns AJ, Andrews PW, Tsakiridis A & McCann CJ () .
Research group
  • Katy Boswell, PhD student (jointly with Dan Bose's group, School of Biosciences)
  • James Birch, PhD student (jointly with Ivana Barbaric group, School of Biosciences)
  • Fay Cooper, PDRA
  • Antigoni Gogolou, PhD student
  • Ingrid Maricel Saldana Guerrero, PDRA (jointly with Helen Bryant's group, Department of Oncology and Metabolism)
  • Rebecca Lea, PDRA
  • Sude Uyulgan, PhD student (jointly with Matt Towers' group, School of Biosciences)

We welcome speculative applications. Please email your CV and research interests to: a.tsakiridis@sheffield.ac.uk

Grants
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
  • The Royal Society
  • Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group/Little Princess Trust
  • MRC Discovery Medicine North Doctoral Training Partnership
  • EU Horizon2020
  • Neuroblastoma UK
  • BBSRC White Rose Mechanistic Biology DTP
  • Medical Research Council
Teaching activities
  • Stem cells, ageing and cancer (BMS243/247) (Module joint co-ordinator)
  • Stem Cell Biology (BMS382/6056)
  • Literature Review and Research Proposal (BIS405/BMS61005)
  • Research Project (BMS61006)
  • Patients as educators/Research project (BIS303)
Professional activities and memberships
  • Communications Lead for Development, Regeneration and Neuroscience Research Cluster, School of Bioscience, University of Sheffield.
  • Elected member of the British Society for Developmental Biology committee.
  • Member of International Society for Stem Cell Research, British Society for Gene and Cell Therapy and Mercia Stem Cell Alliance.
  • Research Advisory Group, Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group/Little Princess Trust.
  • Advisor editor for StemJournal and member of Advisory Board of Cells & Development.

Links