Mahbod Djamshidi

PhD graduate student and enthusiast in epigenetics, cancer biology, and aging with expertise in chromatin regulation, genome engineering, and method development. Skilled in advanced molecular and cellular techniques, including CRISPR-based base and prime editing, recombinant virus engineering, and single-cell transcriptomics. Adept at integrating multi-omics approaches, protein interaction studies, and translational models to dissect mechanisms of cancer progression and metastasis.

• Djamshidi M., Hill A., Heshmatzad K., Langley J., Krowicki H., Ali M., Yang Y., Tanida R., Careem F.A., Billon P., Riabowol K., FAME-CRISPR: Improved CRISPR-Cas9 Genome Editing via HDAC Inhibition and Engineered Virus-Like Particle Delivery. Cell Reports Methods, in press. Preprint and documents available per request.
• Dantas A., Shueili B.A., Park J., Abdullah S., Bertschmann J., Krowicki H., Djamshidi M., Yang Y., Blote K., Thalappilly S., Riabowol K., Tissue-specific localization of the ING4 targeting subunit of the HBO1 histone acetyltransferase in the cytoplasm and nucleus of secretory cells. Histochem Cell Biol. 2025;163:56. doi:10.1007/s00418-025-02385-2
• Adam N., Yang Y., Djamshidi M., Seifan S., Ting N.S.Y., Glover J., Touret N., Gordon P.M.K., Warriyar K.V., Krowicki H., Garcia C.K., Savage S.A., Goodarzi A.A., Baird D.M., Beattie T.L., Riabowol K. hTERT Increases TRF2 to Induce Telomere Compaction and Extend Cell Replicative Lifespan. Aging Cell. 2025. doi:10.1111/acel.70105
• Yang Y., Ma B., Djamshidi M., Zhang Q., Sarkar A., Chanda A., Tran U., Soh J., Sandall C., Chen H.-M., MacDonald J.A., Bonni S., Sensen C.W., Zheng J., Riabowol K. ING1 inhibits Twist1 expression to block EMT and is antagonized by the HDAC inhibitor vorinostat. Eur J Cell Biol. 2023;102(3):151341. doi:10.1016/j.ejcb.2023.151341

• Djamshidi, M., Heshmatzad, K., Tanida, R., & Riabowol, K. — BlindfoldING the HDAC1/Sin3A complex: ING1 antagonizes LBH589-mediated invasion in breast cancer in an integrin-dependent manner. The Canadian Cancer Research Conference (CCRC), Calgary, AB, Canada, 2025.
• Heshmatzad, K., Djamshidi, M., Tanida, R., & Riabowol, K. — Unraveling the epigenetic landscape of liver cancer: Characterizing the role of the epigenetic reader ING5 in hepatocellular carcinoma. The Canadian Cancer Research Conference (CCRC), Calgary, AB, Canada, 2025.
• Adam, N., Yang, Y., Djamshidi, M., Ting, N.S.Y., Glover, J., Gordon, P.M.K., Warriyar, K.V., Krowicki, H., Goodarzi, A.A., Beattie, T.L., & Riabowol, K. — hTERT stabilization of TRF2 as a mechanism of increased cell growth potential. The Canadian Cancer Research Conference (CCRC), Calgary, AB, Canada, 2025.
• Djamshidi, M., Yang, Y., & Riabowol, K. — BlindfoldING the ING1-Sin3A complex: ING1 antagonizes HDACi-mediated cell invasion. Arnie Charbonneau Annual Symposium, Calgary, AB, Canada, 2024.
• Djamshidi, M., Yang, Y., & Riabowol, K. — Effects of altering the levels of the Sin3a complex targeting subunits ING1 and ING2 on breast cancer motility and invasion. 67th Annual CSMB Meeting, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, 2024.
• Dantas, A., Al-Shueili, B., Djamshidi, M., & Riabowol, K. — The ING5 epigenetic reader regulates a subset of DNA repair genes to maintain genomic integrity. AACR Special Conference: DNA Damage Repair: From Basic Science to Future Clinical Application, Washington, DC, USA, 2024. Cancer Res. 2024; 84(1 Suppl): Abstract A033.

• Cumming School of Medicine Graduate Scholarship, University of Calgary (Value: 80,000 CAD)
• International Graduate Tuition Award, University of Calgary (Value: 5,000 CAD)
• Robson DNA Science Centre (RDSC) CCRC Travel Award (Value: 250 CAD)
• Exceptional Talented Graduate Entrance Award, University of Tehran
• Bachelors Full Tuition-waiver Award, University of Tehran

• Reviewer, Nature Communications (Early Career Researcher) | 2025
• Poster judge, The Canadian Cancer Research Conference (CCRC), Calgary, AB | 2025
• Poster Judge, Arnie Charbonneau Annual Symposium, University of Calgary | 2025
• Volunteer, “Cracking the Cancer Code: Precision Medicine for a Personal Disease”, Charbonneau Trainee Association (CTA) | 2023
• President/Lead, Biological Sciences Scientific Association, University of Tehran | 2 years
• Editorial Lead, Biological Sciences Student Journal, University of Tehran | 1 year