Dr Ovchinnikov has been involved in research using the cutting-edge approaches of molecular genetics for over two decades and has substantial experience in all aspects of the establishment and use of novel pluripotent stem cell-based molecular genetic reagents and systems, including specifically for human neurodegenerative disease modelling and therapeutic development.

In recent years Dr Ovchinnikov developed numerous targeted transgenic hPSC lines, including many using safe harbour sites to ensure uniform and sustained expression, critical in a neurodegenerative disease research setting. He has also developed reporters of gene and cellular processes activities, as well as resources for functional genomics (gene expression manipulation).

Dr Ovchinnikov has been an active member of the key international stem cell research-coordinating International Society for Stem Cell Research, he is on the abstract reviewing panel for annual meetings of the Society and presented at two of those. He has also been instrumental in introducing genetically modified cell lines as the new and ever-growing stem cell resource publication format as an editor at Stem Cell Research (Elsevier B.V.), the main forum for this type of scientific communications.

In the last 5 years, Dr Ovchinnikov published 9 papers in this field (4 as first, 2 sole, 1 as a senior author), many in top-tier stem cell journals. Overall, he published over 60 articles with over 8700 total citations (with 5 as a sole/first author with >100 citations), including many in top journals (e.g. Nature, Science, Nature Genetics, Cell Stem Cell, PNAS), and has an h index of 29, i10-index 44, holds international/US patents on the detection of epigenetic changes associated with some common cancers. He attracted over 4M AUD in research and infrastructure funding from various bodies, including the National Health & Medical Research Council, Medical Research Futures Fund & Stem Cells Australia, and National Critical Research Infrastructure Scheme / BioPlatfoms – Australia, as well as local schemes from universities and private donors. Dr Ovchinnikov recently secured a novel ataxia ASO treatment-focused grant from the US funding body.