Majid Pahlevan Kakhki

I am a translational functional (epi)genomics scientist with over 10 years of experience applying molecular and genomic approaches to advance drug discovery and precision medicine. I design and lead variant-to-function platforms that link genetic and epigenetic variation to functional outcomes, enabling the identification of novel therapeutic targets. My work has delivered scalable experimental workflows that integrate diverse functional molecular technologies and support close collaboration with clinicians and international research consortia. I have a strong track record in project leadership, cross-disciplinary teamwork, and innovation, translating complex biological mechanisms into actionable insights for biomedical research and therapeutic development.

My research focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying neuroimmune and neurodegenerative disorders, with a primary emphasis on multiple sclerosis (MS), using a variant-to-function (V2F) framework. I aim to connect genetic and epigenetic variation to functional outcomes in order to uncover drivers of disease progression and identify actionable therapeutic targets.

Key areas include:

• Epigenetic regulation and chromatin architecture, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and long non-coding RNAs, to understand how regulatory variation shapes neuroimmune dysfunction.
• Advanced functional genomics approaches, such as CRISPR-based genome and epigenome editing, high-throughput reporter assays (MPRA), 3D genome mapping, and single-cell multi-omics, to validate causal variants and regulatory elements.
• Integration of multi-omics data and computational modeling to map variant-to-function relationships and prioritize pathways involved in neurodegeneration and immune dysregulation.
• Environmental and genetic interactions, including Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), vitamin D, and population-specific risk variants, to dissect how external and inherited factors converge on disease pathways.
• Mechanistic studies of disease progression across neurological disorders, aimed at identifying intervention points for precision medicine strategies.

While MS is my primary focus, these approaches are broadly applicable to other neuroimmune and neurodegenerative conditions, with the ultimate goal of advancing mechanistic understanding and enabling innovative diagnostics and therapies.

Teaching Skills

Committed to academic teaching excellence, with pedagogical training aligned with Karolinska Institutet standards and international best practices.

·  Pedagogical Training: Completed Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (GHPD), focusing on student-centered learning, curriculum design, and evidence-based teaching strategies. Additionally, I completed the Introductory Doctoral Supervision Course and an online course for doctoral supervisors, covering supervision methods, responsibilities, and best practices for supporting doctoral students.

·  Course Organizer & Teacher: Epigenetics and Its Applications in Clinical Research (Ph.D. level, Karolinska Institutet), including planning, delivery, and assessment.

·  Teacher: Extensive teaching experience across bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in courses such as Clinical and Experimental Neuroimmunology, Allergy, Immunology and Inflammation, Nervous System Injury and Repair, Cell-, Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Molecular Biology, and Molecular Genetics.

·  Global Engagement and Internationalization: Delivered guest lectures and short courses at international institutions, collaborated on curriculum development, and fostered cross-border knowledge exchange in epigenetics and neuroimmunology.

·  Evaluation and Continuous Improvement: Actively involved in course evaluations and refinement based on student feedback. Positive evaluations highlight clarity of instruction, engagement, and relevance of content.