Professor Chris Toseland

School of Medicine and Population Health

Professor of Cancer Biophysics

Chris Toseland
Profile picture of Chris Toseland
c.toseland@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 215 9080
FU34, F Floor, The Medical School

Full contact details

Professor Chris Toseland
School of Medicine and Population Health
FU34, F Floor
The Medical School
Beech Hill Road
Sheffield
S10 2RX
Profile

I received a BSc Biochemistry degree from the University of Wales Aberystwyth in 2006 then commenced a PhD at the MRC National Institute for Medical Researc, University of London. My thesis focused upon the biochemical and biophysical characterisation of DNA helicases. 

At the end of my PhD, I was awarded an EMBO Long Term Fellowship to move to the LMU–Munich to work on single molecule studies with myosin motors. 

After three years I relocated to the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry with a research focus on genome organisation. I then established my research group at the University of Kent in 2015, where I gained the MRC Career Development Award. 

I moved to Sheffield in 2019 and was promoted to Professor in 2023.

Qualifications

2006–2009: PhD MRC National Institute for Medical Research and University of London.

2002–2006: BSc Biochemistry University of Wales,  Aberystwyth

Research interests

We investigate the molecular mechanisms that govern nuclear organisation, with a focus on how cells coordinate transcription, DNA repair, and chromatin dynamics. By integrating cutting-edge approaches—including super-resolution microscopy, single-molecule biophysics, and genomic techniques—we aim to understand how nuclear processes are spatially and temporally regulated.

Our interdisciplinary research environment offers exciting opportunities for students and researchers interested in the fundamental biology that underpins cancer and genome stability. 

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Journal articles

  • Santos ÁD, Fili N, Pearson DS, Hari-Gupta Y & Toseland CP (2021) . Biophysical Journal, 120(4), 631-641.
  • dos Santos A, Cook A, Gough R, Schilling M, Aleida Olszok N, Brown I, Wang L, Aaron J, Martin-Fernandez M, Rehfeldt F & Toseland C (2021) . Nucleic Acids Research, 49(1), 340-353.
  • Cook AW, Gough RE & Toseland CP (2020) . Journal of Cell Science, 133(11).
  • Fili N, Hari-Gupta Y, Aston B, dos Santos Á, Gough RE, Alamad B, Wang L, Martin-Fernandez ML & Toseland CP (2020) . Journal of Biological Chemistry, 295(2), 337-347.
  • Acton SE, Bell AJD, Toseland CP & Twelvetrees A (2019) . eLife, 2019(8).
  • Fili N, Hari-Gupta Y, dos Santos Á, Cook A, Poland S, Ameer-Beg SM, Parsons M & Toseland CP (2017) . Nature Communications, 8(-), ---.
  • Lherbette M, dos Santos Á, Hari-Gupta Y, Fili N, Toseland CP & Schaap IAT (2017) . Scientific Reports, 7.
  • Fili N & Toseland CP () . International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(1), 67-67.

All publications

Journal articles

  • González-Novo R, Zamora-Carreras H, Armesto M, de Lope-Planelles A, López-Menéndez H, Roda-Navarro P, Monroy F, Wang L, Toseland CP & Redondo-Muñoz J (2026) . Cell Reports Physical Science, 7(2), 103116-103116.
  • Gawor M, Lehka L, Lambert D & Toseland CP (2025) . Journal of Cell Science, 138(3).
  • dos Santos A, Rollins DE, Hari-Gupta Y, Reed HCW, Du M, Ru SYZ, Pidlisna K, Stranger A, Lorgat F, Lambert D , Brown I et al (2023) . Nature Communications, 14.
  • Shahid-Fuente IW & Toseland CP (2023) . Biochemical Society Transactions, 51(3), 1023-1034.
  • dos Santos Á, Fili N, Hari-Gupta Y, Gough RE, Wang L, Martin-Fernandez M, Aaron J, Wait E, Chew T-L & Toseland CP (2022) . Biochemical Journal, 479(13), 1409-1428.
  • dos Santos Á, Rehfeldt F & Toseland CP (2022) , 171-181.
  • dos Santos Á, Gough RE, Wang L & Toseland CP (2022) , 293-309.
  • Hari-Gupta Y, Fili N, dos Santos Á, Cook AW, Gough RE, Reed HCW, Wang L, Aaron J, Venit T, Wait E , Grosse-Berkenbusch A et al (2022) . Nature Communications, 13(1).
  • dos Santos A & Toseland C (2022) . Journal of Visualized Experiments, 180.
  • dos Santos Á & Toseland CP (2021) . International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(6).
  • Cook AW & Toseland CP (2021) . The Journal of Biochemistry, 169(3), 265-271.
  • Santos ÁD, Fili N, Pearson DS, Hari-Gupta Y & Toseland CP (2021) . Biophysical Journal, 120(4), 631-641.
  • Emmanouilidis I, Fili N, Cook AW, Hari-Gupta Y, dos Santos Á, Wang L, Martin-Fernandez ML, Ellis PJI & Toseland CP (2021) . Biomolecules, 11(2).
  • dos Santos A, Cook A, Gough R, Schilling M, Aleida Olszok N, Brown I, Wang L, Aaron J, Martin-Fernandez M, Rehfeldt F & Toseland C (2021) . Nucleic Acids Research, 49(1), 340-353.
  • Cook AW, Gough RE & Toseland CP (2020) . Journal of Cell Science, 133(11).
  • Fili N, Hari-Gupta Y, Aston B, dos Santos Á, Gough RE, Alamad B, Wang L, Martin-Fernandez ML & Toseland CP (2020) . Journal of Biological Chemistry, 295(2), 337-347.
  • Acton SE, Bell AJD, Toseland CP & Twelvetrees A (2019) . eLife, 2019(8).
  • Fili N, Hari-Gupta Y, Aston B, dos Santos Á, Gough RE, Alamad B, Wang L, Martin-Fernandez M & Toseland CP (2019) .
  • Cook A, Hari-Gupta Y & Toseland CP (2018) . Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 496(3), 820-825.
  • Fili N, Hari-Gupta Y, dos Santos Á, Cook A, Poland S, Ameer-Beg SM, Parsons M & Toseland CP (2017) . Nature Communications, 8(-), ---.
  • Toseland C (2017) . Impact, 2017(10), 49-51.
  • Lherbette M, dos Santos Á, Hari-Gupta Y, Fili N, Toseland CP & Schaap IAT (2017) . Scientific Reports, 7.
  • Cook A, Hari-Gupta Y & Toseland CP (2017) .
  • Yao M, Goult BT, Klapholz B, Hu X, Toseland CP, Guo Y, Cong P, Sheetz MP & Yan J (2016) . Nature Communications, 7.
  • Wilhelm L, Buermann F, Minnen A, Shin H-C, Toseland CP, Oh B-H & Gruber S (2015) . eLife, 4.
  • Kang H-A, Shin H-C, Kalantzi A-S, Toseland CP, Kim H-M, Gruber S, Dal Peraro M & Oh B-H (2015) . Nucleic Acids Research, 43(7), 3841-3856.
  • Soh Y-M, Buermann F, Shin H-C, Oda T, Jin KS, Toseland CP, Kim C, Lee H, Kim SJ, Kong M-S , Durand-Diebold M-L et al (2015) . Molecular Cell, 57(2), 290-303.
  • Toseland CP & Geeves MA (2014) , 49-65.
  • Fili N & Toseland CP (2014) , 1-24.
  • Toseland CP (2014) , 67-86.
  • Toseland CP & Webb MR (2013) . Journal of Biological Chemistry, 288(35), 25183-25193.
  • Toseland CP (2013) . Journal of Chemical Biology, 6(3), 85-95.
  • Chisty LT, Toseland CP, Fili N, Mashanov GI, Dillingham MS, Molloy JE & Webb MR (2013) . Nucleic Acids Research, 41(9), 5010-5023.
  • Batters C, Woodall KA, Toseland CP, Hundschell C & Veigel C (2012) . Journal of Biological Chemistry, 287(33), 27556-27566.
  • Batters C, Woodall K, Toseland C & Veigel C (2012) . Biophysical Journal, 102(3), 570a-570a.
  • Toseland CP & Webb MR (2011) , 161-174.
  • Fili N, Toseland CP, Dillingham MS, Webb MR & Molloy JE (2011) , 193-214.
  • Fili N, Mashanov GI, Toseland CP, Batters C, Wallace MI, Yeeles JTP, Dillingham MS, Webb MR & Molloy JE (2010) . Nucleic Acids Research, 38(13), 4448-4457.
  • Toseland CP & Webb MR (2010) . Methods, 51(3), 259-268.
  • Toseland CP, Martinez-Senac MM, Slatter AF & Webb MR (2009) . Journal of Molecular Biology, 392(4), 1020-1032.
  • Davies MN, Guan P, Blythe MJ, Salomon J, Toseland CP, Hattotuwagama C, Walshe V, Doytchinova IA & Flower DR (2007) . Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery, 2(1), 19-35.
  • Taylor PD, Toseland CP, Attwood TK & Flower DR (2006) Alpha helical trans-membrane proteins: Enhanced prediction using a Bayesian approach.. Bioinformation, 1(6), 234-236.
  • Taylor PD, Toseland CP, Attwood TK & Flower DR (2006) A predictor of membrane class: Discriminating alpha-helical and beta-barrel membrane proteins from non-membranous proteins.. Bioinformation, 1(6), 208-213.
  • Taylor PD, Toseland CP, Attwood TK & Flower DR (2006) Beta barrel trans-membrane proteins: Enhanced prediction using a Bayesian approach.. Bioinformation, 1(6), 231-233.
  • Hattotuwagama CK, Toseland CP, Guan P, Taylor DJ, Hemsley SL, Doytchinova IA & Flower DR (2006) . ChemInform, 37(31).
  • Davies MN, Toseland CP, Moss DS & Flower DR (2006) . BMC Biochemistry, 7(1).
  • Toseland CP (2006) . Nucleic Acids Research, 34(90001), D199-D203.
  • Hattotuwagama CK, Toseland CP, Guan P, Taylor DJ, Hemsley SL, Doytchinova IA & Flower DR (2006) . Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling, 46(3), 1491-1502.
  • Toseland CP, Clayton DJ, McSparron H, Hemsley SL, Blythe MJ, Paine K, Doytchinova IA, Guan P, Hattotuwagama CK & Flower DR (2005) . Immunome Research, 1(1), 4-4.
  • Guan P, Davies M, Taylor D, Wan S, McSparron H, Hemsley S, Toseland C, Blythe M, Taylor P, Walshe V , Hattotuwagama C et al (2005) . Current Computer Aided-Drug Design, 1(4), 377-395.
  • Fili N & Toseland CP () . International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(1), 67-67.
  • Toseland CP, Powell B & Webb MR () . PLoS ONE, 7(6), e38270-e38270.
  • Taylor PD, Toseland CP, Attwood TK & Flower DR () . Bioinformation, 1(5), 184-187.
  • Taylor PD, Toseland CP, Attwood TK & Flower DR () . Bioinformation, 1(5), 176-179.
  • Toseland CP, McSparron HM & Flower DR () . BMC Bioinformatics, 6(1).

Book chapters

  • Webb MR & Toseland CP (2013) , Encyclopedia of Biophysics (pp. 950-958). Springer Berlin Heidelberg
  • Fili N, Toseland CP, Dillingham MS, Webb MR & Molloy JE (2011) , Methods in Molecular Biology (pp. E1-E1). Humana Press
  • Hattotuwagama CK, Guan P, Davies M, Taylor DJ, Walshe V, Hemsley SL, Toseland C, Doytchinova IA, Borrow P & Flower DR () , In Silico Immunology (pp. 139-175). Springer US

Conference proceedings

  • Cook A, Hari Gupta Y, Venit T, Percipalle P & Toseland CP (2019) . Biophysical Journal, Vol. 116(3) (pp 77a-77a)
  • dos Santos A, Wang L & Toseland CP (2019) . Biophysical Journal, Vol. 116(3) (pp 210a-210a)
  • Fili N, Cook A, Hari Gupta Y & Toseland CP (2019) . Biophysical Journal, Vol. 116(3) (pp 178a-178a)
  • Gough RE, Fili N, Hari Gupta Y & Toseland CP (2019) . Biophysical Journal, Vol. 116(3) (pp 260a-260a)
  • Hari Gupta Y, Fili N, dos Santos A, Chew T-L, Aaron J, Wang L & Toseland CP (2019) . Biophysical Journal, Vol. 116(3) (pp 208a-209a)
  • Hari Gupta Y, Fili N, dos Santos A, Chew T-L, Aaron J, Wang L & Toseland CP (2019) . Biophysical Journal, Vol. 116(3) (pp 209a-209a)
  • Fili N, dos Santos A, Hari-Gupta Y & Toseland CP (2016) Activation of nuclear myosin VI leads to enhanced gene expression.. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL, Vol. 27
  • Fili N, Hari-Gupta Y & Toseland CP (2016) Dissecting the role of Myosin VI in the nucleus.. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL, Vol. 27
  • Toseland CP, Ellrich H, Fili N, Batters C & Veigel C (2012) . Biophysical Journal, Vol. 102(3) (pp 569a-569a)
  • Veigel C, Batters C, Toseland CP & Sellers JR (2011) . Biophysical Journal, Vol. 100(3) (pp 116a-116a)
  • Toseland CP, Batters C & Veigel C (2011) . Biophysical Journal, Vol. 100(3) (pp 72a-73a)
  • Toseland CP & Webb MR (2009) . Biophysical Journal, Vol. 96(3) (pp 415a-415a)

Preprints

  • Hitchcock NB, Annoh M, Grassi L, Das S, Ferreira CS, Ray D, Elgendy R, Wang L, Lee K, Sudbery IM , Bose DA et al (2026) , openRxiv.
  • Hari-Gupta Y, Lambert D, Shahid-Fuente IW, Fili N, Santos ÁD, Sprules A, Kim HR, Cook AW, Ellis PJI, Aaron J , Chew T-L et al (2025) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • González-Novo R, Zamora-Carreras H, Lope-Planelles AD, López-Menéndez H, Roda-Navarro P, Monroy F, Wang L, Toseland CP & Redondo Muñoz J (2023) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • dos Santos Á, Rollins DE, Hari-Gupta Y, Reed HCW, Du M, Ru SYZ, Pidlisna K, Stranger A, Lorgat F, Brown I , Howland K et al (2022) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Emmanouilidis I, Fili N, Cook AW, Hari-Gupta Y, dos Santos Á, Wang L, Martin-Fernandez M, Ellis PJI & Toseland CP (2021) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • dos Santos Á, Cook AW, Gough RE, Schilling M, Olszok NA, Brown I, Wang L, Aaron J, Martin-Fernandez ML, Rehfeldt F & Toseland CP (2020) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • dos Santos Á, Fili N, Hari-Gupta Y, Gough RE, Wang L, Martin-Fernandez M, Aaron J, Wait E, Chew T-L & Toseland CP (2020) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Santos ÁD, Fili N, Pearson DS, Hari-Gupta Y & Toseland CP (2020) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Hari-Gupta Y, Fili N, dos Santos Á, Cook AW, Gough RE, Reed HCW, Wang L, Aaron J, Venit T, Wait E , Grosse-Berkenbusch A et al (2020) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Große-Berkenbusch A, Hettich J, Kuhn T, Fili N, Cook AW, Hari-Gupta Y, Palmer A, Streit L, Ellis PJI, Toseland CP & Gebhardt JCM (2020) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Research group
  • Dr Natalia Fili (Postdoctoral Research Associate)
  • Rosemarie Gough (Postdoctoral Research Associate)
  • Alexander Cook (Postdoctoral Research Associate)
  • Alia dos Santos (PhD Student)
Grants
  • Medical Research Council
  • Cancer Research UK
  • Science and Technology Facilities Council
  • Royal Society
  • Leverhulme Trust
Teaching interests

PGR Training and Development Lead for the School of Medicine and Population Health

Deputy Programme Director for MSc Cancer Biology and Therapeutics

Module Lead for SMP4133 Tumour microenvironment and cancer immunology

I also teach/supervise on other modules for MSc Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, Supervise Phase 2A SSC research attachment projects, conduct assessments for Phase 1 SSC