Mosaicism in macular degeneration
Investigating somatic chromosomal abundance and mosaic loss of the Y chromosome as potential drivers of AMD risk, lesion growth, and prognosis.
Open to postdoctoral opportunities
PhD in genetic epidemiology
Decoding ageing. Saving sight.
I study how mosaicism, genetic variation, and biological ageing shape age-related macular degeneration and other complex diseases. By translating population-scale genomic and phenotypic data into biological insight, I aim to uncover shared mechanisms of disease risk and progression across retinal, systemic, and age-related conditions.
32025 publications
3Conference presentations
3Countries of experience
4+Research programmes
Genome to phenotypeHover or tap an outcome to unzip the genome
GENOME
Genetic evidence engineMethods that turn association into understanding
GWAS
Genome-wide association studies
Scan the genome to identify variants associated with diseases and quantitative traits.
ProducesVariant-trait signals
MechanismsPredictionBiomarkersTherapeutic targets
University of AberdeenGenentechFight for SightThe Grassmann LabARVOProRetinaUK BiobankAging CellHuman GenomicsScience Translational MedicineBSRC Alexander Fleming
01 / Research focus
From genetic signal to biological meaning.
My work connects large-scale genomic evidence with clinically relevant questions in retinal health, disease progression, and healthy ageing.
Biological ageing
Mapping differential organ ageing to retinal disease and systemic health.
Predictive genomics
Using genetic risk scores and machine learning to model disease outcomes.
Interactive explainer
Watch mosaicism emerge with age.
Every cell should carry the same chromosomes, but with age some blood cells lose a sex chromosome and expand into clones: loss of Y in men, loss of an X in women. My research asks whether this hidden mosaic signal helps explain who develops age-related macular degeneration, and how fast it progresses.
0.1%blood cells with mLOY
No detectable mosaicismclonal landscape
Illustrative model for explanation only. Not derived from study data.
Present in all cells Lost in a share of cells
Faded bubbles on the Y chromosome show the approximate share of blood cells that have lost it.
02 / Selected work
Latest peer-reviewed research.
2025
Papadam A, Lionikas A, Grassmann F.
Differential Organ Ageing Is Associated With Age‐Related Macular Degeneration
Aging CellFirst authorBiological ageingAMD
Papadam A, Lionikas A, Grassmann F.
2025
Papadam A, Mihov M, Koller A, Weissensteiner H, Stark K, Grassmann F.
Tapping nature's rhythm: the role of season in mitochondrial function and genetics in the UK Biobank
Hum GenomicsFirst authorMitochondriaUK Biobank
Papadam A, Mihov M, Koller A, Weissensteiner H, Stark K, Grassmann F.
2025
Gao F, Tom E, Rydz C, Cho W, Kolesnikov A V., Sha Y, Papadam A, et al.
Retinal polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation reverses aging-related vision decline in mice
Sci Transl MedCo-authorRetinaTranslational
Gao F, Tom E, Rydz C, Cho W, Kolesnikov A V., Sha Y, Papadam A, et al.
The role of somatic chromosomal abundance in risk and prognosis of age-related macular degeneration
5 authors · Conference presentation
Exploring the Genetic Landscape of Geographic Atrophy Progression: A GWAS in 2,472 Individuals with AMD
9 authors · Conference presentation
The role of somatic chromosomal abundance in risk and prognosis of age-related macular degeneration
5 authors · Conference presentation
03 / Profile
Research built across disciplines.
Genetics, epidemiology, imaging, machine learning, and ethical review, connected by one aim: research that improves human health.
AP
Anastasios Papadam
Researcher from Athens, Greece, with an integrated Master's in Genetics and a PhD focused on mosaicism in age-related macular degeneration.
2024
Genentech
Research Intern / California, USGenome-wide association studies connecting image-derived phenotypes with genetic variants and functional evidence.
PhD
University of Aberdeen
Genetic Epidemiology / Scotland, UKDoctoral research on somatic chromosomal mosaicism, AMD risk, geographic atrophy progression, and biological ageing.
2023-now
Ethics Review Board
School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and NutritionReviewing research governance, participant risk, informed consent, and data protection safeguards.
2022-now
Demonstrator
University of Aberdeen / UG & PG teachingMentoring students and delivering workshops on quantitative methods in genetic epidemiology.
PhD, Genetic Epidemiology
University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UKThesis research on the influence of somatic chromosomal mosaicism in age-related macular degeneration. Funded by Fight for Sight.
M.Sci. Genetics (Immunology & Biobusiness)
University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UKFive-year integrated Master's, including an industrial placement year at BSRC "Alexander Fleming", Greece.
The Grassmann Lab
Genetic architecture, shared disease pathways, and functional variants.
Fight for Sight
PhD research supported by the UK's leading eye research charity.
04 / Toolkit
Methods I bring to a team.
A cross-disciplinary skill set spanning statistical genetics, somatic mosaicism, epidemiology, data science, and the wet lab.
Statistical genetics
- Genome-wide association studies
- Genetic risk scores
- Functional annotation & target nomination
- Rigorous genotype QC
Somatic mosaicism
- Mosaic chromosomal alterations
- Mosaic loss of chromosome Y
- Continuous mosaic measures from genotyping intensity data
Epidemiology & ageing
- Population-scale biobank cohorts
- Disease risk and progression modelling
- Organ-specific biological ageing
Data science
- Machine learning for outcome prediction
- Image-derived phenotypes
- Reproducible, version-controlled analysis
Laboratory
- Cell culture & FACS
- Human tissue and in vivo models
- Quantitative image analysis (ImageJ)
Communication & governance
- UG & PG teaching
- Technical reports & visual summaries
- Research ethics review
05 / Research insights
What I'm reading this month.
Genetics & Genomics
Integrative Genomic and Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Hypothesis-Generating Candidate Genes for Nephrolithiasis Susceptibility in Primary Hyperoxaluria.
Nephrology (Carlton, Vic.) Genetics & GenomicsComparative Genomic Analysis of Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli Across Poultry-Human-Environmental Interfaces.
MicrobiologyOpen Genetics & GenomicsIntegrated Genome-Wide Association Studies and Selection Signature Analysis Reveal the Genetic Architecture of the Wattle Trait in Goats.
Animal genetics06 / Software packages
In development
Research tools, built to be reused.
I am developing open and reproducible software packages for genetic epidemiology. More information will be shared as they approach release.
Upcoming releases
Software packages are coming soon.
Package names, documentation, and source-code links will appear here at a later date.
Ask to be notified on release07 / Tutorials
Knowledge hub in development
Practical science, explained clearly.
This space will host future tutorials, research workflows, and accessible guides for working with genetic and epidemiological data.
08 / Contact
Let's build the next study together.
I am open to postdoctoral positions and research collaborations in genetic epidemiology, somatic mosaicism, retinal disease, and biological ageing.