Angharad M.r. Gatehouse PhD

Prof Angharad Gatehouse has the Chair of Invertebrate Molecular Biology at Newcastle University and is Director of Expertise for BioEconomy. Her research focuses on the molecular and biochemical bases of plant-pest interactions with a view to developing novel strategies for crop protection. Her group was one of the first to produce insect-resistant transgenic crops. More recently her group has been using functional genomics to better understand the molecular responses of crops to biotic stress (pathogens and insect pests) for the development of molecular markers. In collaboration with Durham University, her group is actively involved in developing novel biopesticides including those based on RNAi. In addition to their efficacy, the group is also involved in the biosafety of these strategies, notably in terms of their potential effects on beneficial insects such as pollinators and natural enemies. She has published extensively in the field, including in discovery journals (Nature, PNAS). She was ranked 3rd in the world ratings for citations on work on GM crops and awarded an Honorary Doctorate for contributions to Biotechnology (Banat's the University of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine). In 2015 she was elected an Honorary Member of the National Italian Academy of Entomology and in 2016 she was awarded the ‘Certificate of Distinction in Recognition of Outstanding Achievements in Entomology’, by the Council of the International Congress of Entomology. She has been in receipt of substantial funding; her research is currently funded by BBSRC, EU, and industry. She has extensive collaborations both within the UK and overseas in addition to having strong industrial links. She is a Visiting Professor at Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences (2016-2022) and is Chair of the External Scientific Advisory Board of Agrotecnio (designated a Centre of Excellence for Agrifood Sciences, Spain).