Personal information

circadian clock, ageing, antioxidant signalling, cellular senescence, fibrosis, laminopathies

Biography

Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan is a Senior Lecturer in Circadian & Musculoskeletal Physiology in the Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Sciences, Institute of Lifecourse and Medical Sciences (ILCAMs) at the University of Liverpool (UoL), where she was awarded a prestigious Welcome Trust Tenure-Track Fellowship. She is currently an Academic Lead for Research & Impact for her department and also serves on ILCAMs Research Strategy Group and Ethics Committees. She gained a BSc (Hon) in Human Genetics (Leeds University, UK) and a PhD in Molecular & Cellular Biology of Ageing (Durham University, UK). She undertook postdoctoral training in several of the UK’s leading laboratories (Universities of Newcastle, Durham, Manchester, KCL), investigating the role of cellular ageing and redox signalling in inherited human diseases and their temporal regulation by the cellular time-keeping mechanism, the circadian clock.

Dr Pekovic-Vaughan's laboratory is pursuing an interdisciplinary research spanning molecular biology, in vivo physiology, pharmacology and mathematical modelling to investigate the role of redox signalling and circadian rhythms in normal physiological processes from stem cell differentiation to cellular responses to stress as well as how their misalignment contributes to chronic age-related conditions (e.g. sarcopenia, lung fibrosis, chronic wounds, cardiac disease) and human inherited diseases (e.g. Collagen VI myopathies, Laminopathies, Peripheral neuropathies, Systemic Sclerosis, Marfan Syndrome and Fabry Disease). We are also actively studying the potential of utilizing chronotherapy in smarter drug repurposing (e.g. antiviral candidates in COVID-19, novel retinoic acid based candidates for neuromuscular ageing). The research programme is Dr Pekovic-Vaughan's group’s is funded through UKRI (MRC, BBSRC, EPSRC), Welcome Trust, RoseTreest Trust, Muscular Dystrophy (MD) UK, Dowager Eleanor Peel Trust, Age UK, Newton Fund, The Royal Society and CIMA.

Dr Pekovic-Vaughan serves as a UoL Network Coordinator on an ECMage Operational Group, a recently funded BBSRC/MRC interdisciplinary UK Ageing national network (UKAnet) for Ageing across LifeCourse (https://www.ukanet.org.uk/ec-mage). Currently, she serves as a Managing Scientific Editor for Elsevier publishers (Redox Biology) and as a Review Editor for IUBMB publishers (BioFactors). She is a UoL member of the MRC/Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), collaboration between researchers and clinicians at the UK Universities of Liverpool, Sheffield and Newcastle (https://www.cimauk.org).

Activities

Employment (6)

University of Liverpool: Liverpool, Merseyside, GB

2021 to present | Senior Lecturer in Circadian & Musculoskeletal Physiology (Institute of Lifecourse and Medical Sciences)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

University of Liverpool: Liverpool, Merseyside, GB

2017 to 2021 | Lecturer in Musculoskeletal Biology (Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

University of Liverpool School of Life Sciences: Liverpool, Merseyside, GB

2014 to 2017 | Tenure Track Lecturer/Welcome Trust ISF Fellow (Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

University of Manchester Faculty of Life Sciences: Manchester, Manchester, GB

2010 to 2013 | PDRA (Neuroscience)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

Durham University Faculty of Science: Durham, Durham, GB

2006 to 2009 | PDRA (School of Biomedical and Biological Sciences)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

Newcastle University: Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, GB

2000 to 2001 | Junior Research Associate (MRC Centre for Brain Ageing)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

Education and qualifications (2)

Durham University Faculty of Science: Durham, Durham, GB

2001 to 2005 | PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology (School of Biomedical and Biological Sciences)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

University of Leeds: Leeds, Leeds, GB

1997 to 2000 | BSc (Hons) Human Genetics (School of Biological Sciences)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

Professional activities (2)

IUBMB: Biofactors, GB

2021 to present | Review Editor and Editorial Board Member
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

Elsevier BV: Redox Biology, NL

2021 to present | Scientific Managing Editor
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

Funding (8)

'REFRAME: Exploring New Avenues in Breast Cancer Research: Redox and Metabolic Reprogramming of Cancer and Associated Adipose Tissue'

2022 to 2025 | Grant
Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia (Belgrade, RS)
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

EcMagine Ageing Network ‘Extracellular Matrix Ageing Inter-disciplinary Research Network

2022 to 2024 | Grant
BBSRC (London, GB)
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

‘Deciphering temporal biological networks contributing to fibrosis in Scleroderma’

2022 to 2024 | Grant
Rosetrees Trust (london, GB)
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

‘Investigating the mechanism and therapeutic potential of targetting circadian clocks in Collagen VI myopathies’

2022 to 2023 | Grant
Muscular Dystrophy UK (London, GB)
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

‘Circadian Rhythms in the light of COVID-19: Formulating optimal time-of-day regimens for antiviral drugs using human 3D models and in silico modelling

2021 to 2023 | Grant
BBSRC (London, GB)
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

‘Understanding the role of physical activity in the entrainment mechanisms of circadian biological cycles’

2021 to 2022 | Award
Royal Society (London, GB)
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

Circadian rhythms and the control of NRF2-based antioxidant signalling as a therapeutic target in tissue repair and pathological healing

2017 to 2021 | Award
Medical Research Council (London, GB)
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

The role of musculoskeletal clocks in tissue repair and ageing

2014 to 2017 | Award
Wellcome Trust (London, GB)
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan

Works (16)

Strengths and opportunities in research into extracellular matrix ageing: A consultation with the ECMage research community

BioEssays
2024-05 | Journal article
Contributors: Matthew J. Dalby; Vanja Pekovic‐Vaughan; Daryl P. Shanley; Joe Swift; Lisa J. White; Elizabeth G. Canty‐Laird
Source: check_circle
Crossref

Redox changes in obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes

Redox Biology
2021-01 | Journal article
Source: check_circle
Researchfish

Adult stem cell maintenance and tissue regeneration around the clock: do impaired stem cell clocks drive age-associated tissue degeneration?

Biogerontology
2018-12-29 | Journal article
Contributors: Eve H. Rogers; John A. Hunt; Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan
Source: check_circle
Crossref

N-acetyl cysteine alleviates oxidative stress and protects mice from dilated cardiomyopathy caused by mutations in nuclear A-type lamins gene.

Human molecular genetics
2018-10 | Journal article
Contributors: Rodriguez BM; Khouzami L; Decostre V; Varnous S; Pekovic-Vaughan V; Hutchison CJ; Pecker F; Bonne G; Muchir A
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan via Europe PubMed Central

Mechanical stretch and chronotherapeutic techniques for progenitor cell transplantation and biomaterials.

BioMedicine
2018-08 | Journal article
Contributors: Rogers EH; Pekovic-Vaughan V; Hunt JA
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan via Europe PubMed Central

Cellular mechano-environment regulates the mammary circadian clock

Nature Communications
2017 | Journal article
EID:

2-s2.0-85010991021

Contributors: Yang, N.; Williams, J.; Pekovic-Vaughan, V.; Wang, P.; Olabi, S.; McConnell, J.; Gossan, N.; Hughes, A.; Cheung, J.; Streuli, C.H. et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan via Scopus - Elsevier

Comparing Circadian Dynamics in Primary Derived Stem Cells from Different Sources of Human Adult Tissue.

Stem cells international
2017-10 | Journal article
Contributors: Rogers EH; Fawcett SA; Pekovic-Vaughan V; Hunt JA
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan via Europe PubMed Central

Ageing in relation to skeletal muscle dysfunction: redox homoeostasis to regulation of gene expression

Mammalian Genome
2016 | Journal article
EID:

2-s2.0-84969790450

Contributors: Goljanek-Whysall, K.; Iwanejko, L.A.; Vasilaki, A.; Pekovic-Vaughan, V.; McDonagh, B.
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan via Scopus - Elsevier

The circadian clock regulates rhythmic activation of the NRF2/glutathionemediated antioxidant defense pathway to modulate pulmonary fibrosis

Genes and Development
2014 | Journal article
EID:

2-s2.0-84896339411

Contributors: Pekovic-Vaughan, V.; Gibbs, J.; Yoshitane, H.; Yang, N.; Pathiranage, D.; Guo, B.; Sagami, A.; Taguchi, K.; Bechtold, D.; Loudon, A. et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan via Scopus - Elsevier

A flow cytometry-based screen of nuclear envelope transmembrane proteins identifies NET4/tmem53 as involved in stress-dependent cell cycle withdrawal

PLoS ONE
2011 | Journal article
EID:

2-s2.0-79955028994

Contributors: Korfali, N.; Srsen, V.; Waterfall, M.; Batrakou, D.G.; Pekovic, V.; Hutchison, C.J.; Schirmer, E.C.
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan via Scopus - Elsevier

Conserved cysteine residues in the mammalian lamin A tail are essential for cellular responses to ROS generation

Aging Cell
2011 | Journal article
EID:

2-s2.0-81155124411

Contributors: Pekovic, V.; Gibbs-Seymour, I.; Markiewicz, E.; Alzoghaibi, F.; Benham, A.M.; Edwards, R.; Wenhert, M.; von Zglinicki, T.; Hutchison, C.J.
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan via Scopus - Elsevier

A-type lamins, disease and ageing: a stress-induced relationship?

SEB experimental biology series
2009 | Journal article
EID:

2-s2.0-79960653760

Contributors: Pekovic, V.; Hutchison, C.J.
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan via Scopus - Elsevier

A-type lamins, disease and ageing: a stress-induced relationship?

SEB experimental biology series
2009-01 | Journal article
Contributors: Pekovic V; Hutchison CJ
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan via Europe PubMed Central

Adult stem cell maintenance and tissue regeneration in the ageing context: The role for A-type lamins as intrinsic modulators of ageing in adult stem cells and their niches

Journal of Anatomy
2008 | Journal article
EID:

2-s2.0-47949122432

Contributors: Pekovic, V.; Hutchison, C.J.
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan via Scopus - Elsevier

The MAGUK-family protein CASK is targeted to nuclei of the basal epidermis and controls keratinocyte proliferation

Journal of Cell Science
2008 | Journal article
EID:

2-s2.0-52649086911

Contributors: Ojeh, N.; Pekovic, V.; Jahoda, C.; Määttä, A.
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan via Scopus - Elsevier

Nucleoplasmic LAP2α-lamin A complexes are required to maintain a proliferative state in human fibroblasts

Journal of Cell Biology
2007 | Journal article
EID:

2-s2.0-33846419847

Contributors: Pekovic, V.; Harborth, J.; Broers, J.L.V.; Ramaekers, F.C.S.; Van Engelen, B.; Lammens, M.; Von Zglinicki, T.; Foisner, R.; Hutchison, C.; Markiewicz, E.
Source: Self-asserted source
Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan via Scopus - Elsevier