Fabian Spill (he/him)

Principal Investigator (PI)

About

Fabian is an interdisciplinary scientist who has worked on a variety if different applications of mathematics in the world. During his PhD at Imperial College, Fabian investigated quite abstract symmetry structures in string and gauge theories. After his PhD he switched towards  Mathematical Finance, modelling derivatives at the investment bank of RBS. He found the ideal mixture of exciting mathematical modelling with fundamental scientific questions when starting to work as a postdoc in Mathematical Biology in Oxford. Following a further postdoc in bioengineering at MIT and at Boston University, he got his first faculty position as a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) at the University of Birmingham where he is still based. Currently, he is a Professor of Applied Mathematics, a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and a Turing Fellow at the Alan Turing Institute.

Research Themes


Research Projects

Fabian's main interest is to understand how the physical properties of the cells and their microenvironment influence cell behaviour. This effect can be direct, for example, through mechanosensing pathways., or indirect, for example, through the effects of transport properties of cells and signalling molecules. 

For example, in recent collaborations, we have shown that the geometric alignment of intracellular organelles affects cell behaviour. Mitochondria can change their organisation in diseases such as diabetes, and consequently, this arrangement 

can change the behaviour of metabolic pathways. Similarly, the ER can change its shape in response to overall cell shape, and this can then affect collective cell migration. 

Fabian is passionate about exploring how the changes in physical properties of cells and tissues that occur in ageing and in age-related diseases are critical for the progression of frailty or the diseases. The goal is that this knowledge will open up new therapeutic options that will target the often adverse effects of physical alterations in diseases.

 

Qualifications

Publications