Rate My Professor John Reader

John Reader is Associate Professor of Biological Sciences in the Medical Sciences Division at the University of Oxford. He holds a BSc (Hons) and DPhil. Affiliated with the Radcliffe Department of Medicine's Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Centre for Human Genetics, Reader's career includes recent promotion to Associate Professor in Cardiovascular Medicine. His research centers on the protein translation apparatus, with particular emphasis on aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) and tRNAs. These enzymes are essential for protein synthesis and exhibit non-canonical functions, including roles in biosynthesis, antibiotics, tRNA modifications, viral replication, and cytokine-like activities in higher eukaryotes.

Reader investigates novel catalytic activities and biological functions of aaRSs, with applications to therapeutics for cardiovascular and microbial diseases. He explores the therapeutic potential of mini-TyrRS to promote angiogenesis in peripheral vascular disease and myocardial infarction, collaborating with Dr. Ellie Tzima on underlying molecular mechanisms. Additionally, his work uses agrocin 84 as a foundation for novel antibiotics targeting bacterial infections. Key publications include 'Proteostasis and resilience in the mechanically-stressed vascular endothelium' (Keen et al., 2023, Current Opinion in Physiology); 'Mechanical Forces and Their Effect on the Ribosome and Protein Translation Machinery' (Simpson et al., 2020, Cells); 'The guidance receptor plexin D1 is a mechanosensor in endothelial cells' (Mehta et al., 2020, Nature); 'Mechanical Regulation of Protein Translation in the Cardiovascular System' (Simpson et al., 2020, Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology); and 'Haemodynamics Regulate Fibronectin Assembly via PECAM' (Chen et al., 2017, Scientific Reports). Reader supervises DPhil students on topics such as protein-making factories in cardiovascular disease prevention and engages in outreach, including STEM taster sessions at Lady Margaret Hall.