Mathew H. Horrocks

2026 United Kingdom Award Finalist — Faculty

Mathew H. Horrocks

Current Position:
Chair of Biophysics

Institution:
The University of Edinburgh

Discipline:
Physical Chemistry

Recognised for: Developing single-molecule and super-resolution imaging tools that capture protein aggregates underlying neurodegenerative diseases, uncovering disease mechanisms and enabling new strategies for diagnosis and therapy.

Areas of Research Interest and Expertise:
Single-molecule microscopy, Super-resolution microscopy, Protein aggregation, Neurodegeneration

Previous Positions:

  • MChem (1st Class), University of Oxford, Chemistry
  • PhD, University of Cambridge, Chemistry (Advisor: Sir David Klenerman FRS)
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Cambridge, Department of Chemistry
  • Vice Chancellor’s Research Fellow, Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong
  • Herchel Smith University Research Fellow, University of Cambridge, Department of Chemistry and Stem Cell Institute 
  • Junior Research Fellow, Christ’s College, University of Cambridge
  • Lecturer in Biophysics, University of Edinburgh, School of Chemistry
  • Head of Edinburgh Single-Molecule Biophysics Group, University of Edinburgh, School of Chemistry
  • Senior Lecturer in Biophysics, University of Edinburgh, School of Chemistry and Institute for Regeneration and Repair
  • Professor of Biophysics, University of Edinburgh, School of Chemistry and Institute for Regeneration and Repair

Research Summary:

Protein aggregates are some of the earliest drivers of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, but their small size, dynamic formation and complex behavior make them challenging to study. Mathew Horrocks, PhD, has made significant advances in visualising these proteins, providing unprecedented clarity at the level of individual molecules. Horrocks has pioneered single-molecule and super-resolution microscopy, enabling the direct observation of protein behaviour in living cells. These breakthroughs have revealed how aggregates form and damage neurons, creating new opportunities for early diagnosis, biomarker discovery, drug screening, and the development of targeted therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.

“I’m deeply honoured by the Blavatnik Awards for recognising my work on protein aggregation in neurodegeneration, made possible by the support of my fantastic mentors, collaborators, and group members over the years.”

Key Publications:

  1. R. S. Saleeb, C. Leighton, J.-E. Lee, J. O’Shaughnessy, K. Jeacock, A. Chappard, R. Cumberland, T. Zhao, S. R. Ball, M. Sunde, D. J. Clarke, K. Piché, J. A. McPhail, A. Louwrier, R. Angers, S. Gandhi, P. Downey, T. Kunath, M. H. Horrocks. Two-color coincidence single-molecule pulldown for the specific detection of disease-associated protein aggregates. Science Advances, 2023.
  2. K. M. Bąk, D. Edwards, D. George, B. Singh, R. Ferguson, T. Zhao, K. Piché, A. Louwrier, S. L. Cockroft, M. Horrocks. A single-molecule liposome assay for membrane permeabilisation. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2025.
  3. E. Zacco, O. Kantelberg, E. Milanetti, A. Armaos, F. P. Panei, J. Gregory, K. Jeacock, D. J. Clarke, S. Chandran, G. Ruocco, S. Gustincich, M. H. Horrocks, A. Pastore, G. G. Tartaglia. Probing TDP-43 condensation using an in silico designed aptamer. Nature Communications, 2022.
  4. K. Morris, E. Bulovaite, T. Kaizuka, S. Schnorrenberg, C. T. Adams, N. Komiyama, L. Mendive-Tapia, S. G. N. Grant, M. H. Horrocks. Sequential replacement of PSD95 subunits in postsynaptic supercomplexes is slowest in the cortex. eLife, 2024.

Other Honors:

2022 Joseph Black Award, Royal Society of Chemistry
2016–2018 Junior Research Fellowship, Christ’s College, University of Cambridge
2016–2018 Herchel Smith University Research Fellowship, University of Cambridge
2015–2016 Vice-Chancellor’s Fellowship, University of Wollongong
2009 ExxonMobil Prize for Physical Chemistry, University of Oxford

In the Media:

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