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Best Female Scientists
2025
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Molecular Biology
UK
2026

D-Index & Metrics

Best Female Scientists

D-Index
133
Citations
67369
World Ranking
311
National Ranking
27

Molecular Biology

D-Index
134
Citations
69171
World Ranking
160
National Ranking
8

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Molecular Biology in United Kingdom Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Best Female Scientists Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Molecular Biology in United Kingdom Leader Award
  • 2024 - Research.com Genetics and Molecular Biology in United Kingdom Leader Award
  • 2023 - Research.com Molecular Biology in United Kingdom Leader Award
  • 2019 - Member of the National Academy of Sciences
  • 2009 - Member of Academia Europaea
  • 2008 - Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
  • 2003 - Fellow of the Royal Society, United Kingdom

Overview

Fiona M. Watt is affiliated with King's College London in the United Kingdom and has a significant research footprint spanning biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and medicine. Their work primarily focuses on molecular biology, oncology, immunology, cell biology, and dermatology.

The scientist has contributed extensively to various research topics, including:

  • Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
  • CAR-T cell therapy research
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells Research
  • Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
  • Dermatology and Skin Diseases
  • Skin and Cellular Biology Research
  • Wound Healing and Treatments

Fiona M. Watt's recent publications reflect a multidisciplinary approach and include the following papers:

  • "A framework for advancing our understanding of cancer-associated fibroblasts," 2020, Nature Reviews Cancer
  • "Developmental cell programs are co-opted in inflammatory skin disease," 2021, Science
  • "Single-cell RNA-sequencing of differentiating iPS cells reveals dynamic genetic effects on gene expression," 2020, Nature Communications
  • "What is AI? Applications of artificial intelligence to dermatology," 2020, British Journal of Dermatology
  • "Translational control of stem cell function," 2021, Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology

The researcher frequently publishes in venues such as:

  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
  • Journal of Investigative Dermatology
  • Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
  • Nature Communications
  • Nature

Collaborations form an important aspect of their work, with frequent co-authors including Muzlifah Haniffa, Sarah A. Teichmann, Clarisse Gânier, Gary Reynolds, and Péter Végh. These collaborations highlight a strong network within molecular and cellular biology domains.

Throughout their career, Fiona M. Watt has been recognized by various prestigious scientific bodies, including honors such as:

  • Member of the National Academy of Sciences, 2019
  • Member of Academia Europaea, 2009
  • Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 2008
  • Fellow of the Royal Society, United Kingdom, 2003

Best Publications

  • A framework for advancing our understanding of cancer-associated fibroblasts

    Erik Sahai;Igor Astsaturov;Edna Cukierman;David G. DeNardo

  • Out of Eden: Stem Cells and Their Niches

    Fiona M. Watt;Brigid L. M. Hogan

  • Regulation of development and differentiation by the extracellular matrix

    Josephine C. Adams;Fiona M. Watt

  • Extracellular-matrix tethering regulates stem-cell fate

    Britta Trappmann;Julien E. Gautrot;Julien E. Gautrot;John T. Connelly;John T. Connelly;Daniel G. T. Strange

  • The Human Cell Atlas

    Aviv Regev;Aviv Regev;Aviv Regev;Sarah A Teichmann;Sarah A Teichmann;Sarah A Teichmann;Eric S Lander;Eric S Lander;Eric S Lander;Ido Amit

  • Separation of human epidermal stem cells from transit amplifying cells on the basis of differences in integrin function and expression.

    Philip H. Jones;Fiona M. Watt

  • Distinct fibroblast lineages determine dermal architecture in skin development and repair

    Ryan R. Driskell;Ryan R. Driskell;Beate M. Lichtenberger;Beate M. Lichtenberger;Esther Hoste;Kai Kretzschmar;Kai Kretzschmar

  • Autophagy mediates the mitotic senescence transition

    Andrew R.J. Young;Masako Narita;Manuela Ferreira;Kristina Kirschner

  • Stem cell patterning and fate in human epidermis

    Philip H Jones;Steven Harper;Fiona M Watt

  • Role of the extracellular matrix in regulating stem cell fate

    Fiona M. Watt;Wilhelm T. S. Huck

  • Role of integrins in regulating epidermal adhesion, growth and differentiation

    Fiona M. Watt

  • Stem cells: the generation and maintenance of cellular diversity

    Peter A. Hall;Fiona M. Watt

  • Apoptosis in mesenchymal stromal cells induces in vivo recipient-mediated immunomodulation.

    Antonio Galleu;Yanira Riffo-Vasquez;Cristina Trento;Cara Lomas

  • Changes in keratinocyte adhesion during terminal differentiation: Reduction in fibronectin binding precedes α5β1 integrin loss from the cell surface

    Josephine C. Adams;Fiona M. Watt

  • Modulating the stem cell niche for tissue regeneration

    Steven W Lane;David A Williams;Fiona M Watt

  • Lrig1 Expression Defines a Distinct Multipotent Stem Cell Population in Mammalian Epidermis

    Kim B. Jensen;Charlotte A. Collins;Elisabete Nascimento;David W. Tan

  • Common genetic variation drives molecular heterogeneity in human iPSCs

    Helena Kilpinen;Angela Goncalves;Andreas Leha;Vackar Afzal

  • Stimulation of human epidermal differentiation by Delta–Notch signalling at the boundaries of stem-cell clusters

    Sally Lowell;Philip Jones;Isabelle Le Roux;Jenny Dunne

  • Epidermal stem cells: markers, patterning and the control of stem cell fate.

    Fiona M. Watt

  • Cell shape controls terminal differentiation of human epidermal keratinocytes

    Fiona M. Watt;Peter W. Jordan;Charles H. O'Neill

Frequent Co-Authors

Andrew A. Bettiol
Andrew A. Bettiol National University of Singapore
Wilhelm T. S. Huck
Wilhelm T. S. Huck Radboud University
Oliver Stegle
Oliver Stegle German Cancer Research Center
Sarah A. Teichmann
Sarah A. Teichmann University of Cambridge
Nicholas M. Luscombe
Nicholas M. Luscombe The Francis Crick Institute
Michaela Frye
Michaela Frye University of Cambridge
Ewan Birney
Ewan Birney European Molecular Biology Laboratory
Richard Durbin
Richard Durbin University of Cambridge
Angus I. Lamond
Angus I. Lamond University of Dundee
Salvador Aznar Benitah
Salvador Aznar Benitah Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats

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