Professor Aniko Varadi

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Qualifications:
Executive MBA (CMI-accredited, Chartered Manager – FCMI CMgr), Bristol Business School; Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA); Doctorate in Medical Biochemistry, Albert Szent-Györgyi University of Medical Sciences, Szeged; MSc in Biotechnology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne; Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), Attila József University, Szeged, BSc (Hons) in Biology and Chemistry, Attila József University, Szeged. I am currently undertaking a Digital Applications Technician (Level 3) apprenticeship with Multiverse focused on AI-powered productivity.
Position:
Professor in Biomedical Research
Department:
HAS - Applied Sciences
Telephone:
+441173283576
Email:
Aniko.Varadi@uwe.ac.uk

About me

I am Professor in Biomedical Research and Director of the Centre for Biomedical Research at UWE Bristol. I previously led the Centre for Research in Biosciences (2017–2024), where I built research capacity, developed strategic partnerships, and secured significant external funding.

I have led major research assessment exercises, including RAE2008, REF2014 and REF2021 submissions for Unit of Assessment 3 (Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy). For REF2021, I co-led the submission and contributed to multiple impact case studies, all rated internationally excellent or world-leading (3*/4*), strengthening UWE’s research profile.

I also lead UWE’s involvement in the BBSRC-funded South West Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (SWBio DTP), a £41.1M regional programme supporting doctoral training across leading universities, research institutes and industry partners. My role spans governance, student selection, and delivery of skills training, including business and enterprise development.

My work brings together biomedical research, business collaboration, teaching, and workforce development. I lead the only fully validated PGCert in Genomics for nurses and healthcare professionals in England, delivered in partnership with NHS England Genomics Education Programme, Genomics England, Macmillan Cancer Support, the British Heart Foundation, and NHS Genomic Medicine Services. The programme and the wider Generation Genome Education Team received a national Advance HE Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) in 2024.

This work has contributed to national genomic competency frameworks and supported the integration of genomics into routine clinical practice. I also lead projects that embed artificial intelligence into genomics education and training, with a focus on scalable and sustainable workforce development.

Research focus

My research spans biomedical science, genomics, education, and applied innovation. Earlier work focused on cellular and molecular mechanisms in diabetes and calcium signalling. More recently, I have focused on applied genomics, workforce capability, and clinical implementation.

I work at the interface of biomedical research, healthcare delivery, education, and business, in collaboration with NHS partners, industry, and international organisations. Current projects explore how artificial intelligence can support genomics training and how large-scale education programmes can enable service transformation across healthcare systems. My work combines scientific research, education design, and practical implementation to improve patient outcomes and workforce capability.

Area of expertise

My work spans biomedical science, genomics, and workforce development, with a focus on translating research into clinical practice and education at scale.

  • Genomics education and workforce development: I lead national work on embedding genomics into healthcare practice, including the development of competency frameworks and scalable education models for nurses and healthcare professionals. This includes the design and delivery of PGCert-level training and contributions to national workforce strategies aligned with NHS priorities. My work also explores how artificial intelligence can support genomics education and service transformation.

  • Neonatal genomics and brain injury: I led the Neonatal Gene Study, the largest UK multicentre study investigating genetic susceptibility to brain injury in preterm infants. The study recruited over 600 infants and linked genomic data with neurodevelopmental outcomes and brain imaging, providing a foundation for improved risk stratification and future pharmacogenetic approaches.

  • Translational genomics and clinical implementation: My research focuses on integrating genomics into routine clinical pathways, particularly in cancer and inherited conditions. This includes collaboration with NHS partners to support service delivery, workforce capability, and the adoption of genomic medicine in practice.

  • Cellular and molecular mechanisms of disease: My earlier work examined glutamate receptor signalling in insulin secretion and the role of intracellular transport mechanisms. This includes studies on myosin Va–interacting proteins and their regulation of insulin-containing large dense-core vesicles, contributing to the understanding of endocrine cell function.

 

Publications

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