Dr. Yashar Sadigh

About

Dr. Yashar Sadigh is a Lecturer in the School of Life Sciences at Coventry University and Course Director for the MSc Biotechnology programme. He holds a PhD in Biological Sciences (Virology) from the University of Warwick, a PGCert in Academic Practice in Higher Education, and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

Dr. Sadigh's research centres on translational virology, antiviral drugs and vaccine engineering, with interests spanning herpesvirus biology, viral pathogenesis and recombinant vaccine vector design. His work is supported by a track record of peer-reviewed publications and three granted patents (US/EU/AU).

Before joining Coventry, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at The Pirbright Institute and then as a Scientist IV in Analytical Development Group at Oxford Biomedica, bringing experience that spans fundamental virology through to GMP biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

His teaching covers virology, vaccinology, and biotechnology, and his broader interests lie in bridging academic research with translational antiviral development and industrial vaccine development.

Career overview

Dr. Sadigh began his research career at the University of Warwick, where he completed his PhD in Biological Sciences with a focus on pathogenesis of pneumoviruses.

His research at The Pirbright Institute, one of the UK's leading centres for research into infectious diseases of livestock, involved studying vaccine development for porcine and avian species. During his tenure at The Pirbright Institute he developed extensive expertise in herpesvirus biology, recombinant vaccine vector engineering and molecular virology. His work during this period contributed to multiple peer-reviewed publications and the development of novel vaccine platform technologies, resulting in three granted patents across the US, EU and Asia.

Dr. Sadigh then moved into the biopharmaceutical industry as a Scientist IV in Analytical Development at Oxford Biomedica, where he gained first-hand experience of GMP manufacturing processes and translational development for viral vector-based therapeutics. He joined Coventry University in 2024, bringing a career that bridges academic research, applied virology and industrial biopharmaceutical development.

Dr. Sadigh leads the MSc Biotechnology programme at Coventry University, with responsibility for curriculum design, delivery, assessment and recruitment. He teaches advanced modules in virology, vaccinology, molecular biology and immunology, embedding current research into both lectures and student projects. His teaching practice is informed by established paedagogical frameworks such as Cognitive Load Theory and Socratic dialogue, and peer observation has commended his ability to create a psychologically safe learning environment while maintaining strong curricular coherence.

Research

Dr. Sadigh's research sits at the interface of translational virology, antiviral drugs and vaccine engineering, informed by a One Health perspective that spans human and veterinary applications.

His research in herpesvirus biology encompasses the construction and evaluation of recombinant viral vaccine vectors, resulting in three granted international patents (US, EU, Australia) and peer-reviewed publications in journals including npj Vaccines, Journal of Virology and eLife. He maintains active collaborative links with several research institutes across the UK and internationally.

A growing strand of his research explores the antiviral potential of plant-derived phytochemicals, investigating their mechanisms of action at the molecular level, including effects on key host signaling pathways such as NFκB. This work bridges natural product chemistry with virology and contributes to broader efforts in antiviral drug discovery.

Dr. Sadigh is also engaged in vaccine landscape and gap analysis, mapping unmet needs across both veterinary and human vaccine markets to identify opportunities for translational development. He currently supervises research students at PhD, MSc and undergraduate levels, with several manuscripts in preparation spanning recombinant vaccine efficacy and viral metagenomics.

External activities

Dr. Sadigh is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a member of the Genetically Modified Microorganisms (GMMO) and Biological Resources committees at Coventry University, and serves as a reviewer for MDPI journals.

Publications and press

• Thanasi E. & Sadigh Y. — Investigating the impact of caftaric acid and chicoric acid from Echinacea purpurea on NFκB p65 (pS529) expression in THP-1 cells. Submitted to Phytochemicals in Food and Medicine. Accepted for publication. DOI:10.1002/pfm2.70018
• de Brito R.C.; Sadigh Y.; Bowman J.; Clive S.; Jackson B.; Pedrera M.; Crofts F.; Bernard M.; Lean F.; Núñez A.; Seago J.; Frossard JP.; & Graham S.P. (2025). A centralised immunogen approach to develop a more broadly protective modified live porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus 1 vaccine candidate. NPJ Vaccines, 10(1):129. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-025-01192-z
• Xu Q.; Zhang Y.; Sadigh Y.; Tang N.; Chai J.; Cheng Z.; Gao Y.; Qin A.; Shen Z. (2024). Specific and sensitive visual proviral DNA detection of major pathogenic avian leukosis virus subgroups using CRISPR-associated nuclease Cas13a. Viruses, 16(7), 1168. https://doi.org/10.3390/v16071168
• Hayhurst E.; Rose E.; Pedrera M.; Edwards J.C.; Kotynska N.; Grainger D.; Sadigh Y.; Ritwik R.; Dulal P.; Howard M.K.; Graham S.P. (2022). Evaluation of the delivery of a live attenuated porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus as a unit solid dose injectable vaccine. Vaccines, 10(11), 1836. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10111836
• Reddy V.R.; Sadigh Y.; Tang N.; Yao Y.; & Nair V. (2020). Novel insights into the roles of Bcl-2 homolog Nr-13 (vNr-13) encoded by herpesvirus of turkeys in the virus replication cycle, mitochondrial networks, and apoptosis inhibition. Journal of Virology, 94(10). https://doi.org/10.1128/jvi.02049-19
• Tang N.; Zhang Y.; Sadigh Y.; Moffat K.; Shen Z.; Nair V.; & Yao Y. (2020). Generation of a triple insert live avian herpesvirus vectored vaccine using CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing. Vaccines, 8(1), 97. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8010097
• Sadigh Y.; Tahiri-Alaoui A.; Spatz S.; Nair V.; Ribeca P. (2020). Pervasive differential splicing in Marek’s disease virus can discriminate CVI-988 vaccine strain from RB-1B very virulent strain in chicken embryonic fibroblasts. Viruses, 12, 329. https://doi.org/10.3390/v12030329
• Reddy V.R.; Mwangi W.; Sadigh Y.; & Nair V. (2019). In vitro interactions of chicken programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and PD-1 ligand-1 (PD-L1). Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 9, 436. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2019.00436
• Sadigh Y.; Powers C.; Spiro S.; Pedrera M.; Broadbent A.; & Nair V. (2018). Gallid herpesvirus 3 SB-1 strain as a recombinant viral vector for poultry vaccination. NPJ Vaccines, 3(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-018-0056-6
• Zhang Y.; Tang N.; Sadigh Y.; Baigent S.; Shen Z.; Nair V.; & Yao Y. (2018). Application of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system on MDV-1 genome for the study of gene function. Viruses, 10(6), 279. https://doi.org/10.3390/v10060279
• Tiede C.; Bedford R.; Heseltine S.J.; Smith G.; Wijetunga I.; Ross R.; Sadigh Y.; … Curd A. (2017). Affimer proteins are versatile and renewable affinity reagents. eLife, 6, e24903. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.24903
• Sadigh Y.; & Nair V. (2017). A review on PML nuclear bodies and their interaction with herpesviruses. Annals of Virology Research, 3(1), 1027.
• Tahiri-Alaoui A.; Zhao Y.; Sadigh Y.; Popplestone J.; Kgosana L.; Smith L.P.; & Nair V. (2014). Poly(A) binding protein 1 enhances cap-independent translation initiation of neurovirulence factor from avian herpesvirus. PLoS ONE, 9(12), e114466. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0114466
• Ebrahimi A.A.; Noshad H.; Sadreddini S.; Hejazi M.S.; Mohammadzadeh Sadigh Y.; Eshraghi Y.; & Ghojazadeh M. (2009). Serum levels of TNF-α, TNF-αRI, TNF-αRII and IL-12 in treated rheumatoid arthritis patients. Iranian Journal of Immunology, 6(3), 147–153.
• Hejazi M.; Ghotaslou R.; Hagh M.F.; & Sadigh Y.M. (2007). Genotyping of hepatitis C virus in the northwest of Iran. Biotechnology, 6(3), 302–308. https://doi.org/10.3923/biotech.2007.302.308