Peter G. Stockley

About

Peter G. Stockley is a pioneering structural and molecular biologist whose work has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of how RNA viruses assemble. His research centers on the biophysics of viral self-assembly, particularly the role of specific RNA Packaging Signals (PSs) in directing genome encapsidation. Stockley’s major contribution is the elucidation of the “RNA packaging signal” paradigm, demonstrating that short, stem-loop RNA motifs—not random encapsulation—are the key drivers of faithful genome packaging in viruses like Hepatitis B and bacteriophages. His seminal review, “Aptamers come of age – at last” (2006, 692 citations), remains a cornerstone reference, bridging aptamer technology with viral assembly. More recently, his high-throughput ligand screening dataset (2022) provides a powerful resource for identifying small molecules that disrupt PS-mediated nucleocapsid formation, opening new antiviral strategies. With over 690 citations on his most influential work alone, Stockley’s impact is profound: he has transformed viral assembly from a stochastic process into a programmable, sequence-specific event, inspiring both fundamental virology and therapeutic design.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Aptamers come of age – at last

   692 citations · 2006
2. 2
   Dataset of high-throughput ligand screening against the RNA Packaging Signals regulating Hepatitis B Virus nucleocapsid formation

   3 citations · 2022

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links