This research investigates the genetic mechanisms underlying polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition affecting one in ten women and the leading cause of female infertility. By studying thousands of genetic variants across multiple cell types, the project aims to identify the biological causes of PCOS and develop targeted treatments.

This research investigates how cells select which protein fragments, or peptides, to display to the immune system. Contrary to previous assumptions, peptide presentation appears highly curated rather than random. Understanding these selection rules could improve cancer immunotherapy, enhance antiviral treatments, and provide new insights into autoimmune diseases.

This research investigates the protein SLX4, a key coordinator of DNA repair. Using complementary techniques, it identifies 221 interacting proteins, most previously unknown. Findings reveal a complex network involved in genome maintenance, offering new insights into cellular repair mechanisms and improving understanding of diseases such as cancer.

Cells maintain health by recycling damaged components through autophagy. This research identifies proteins that connect the endoplasmic reticulum to the growing autophagic membrane, enabling lipid transfer required for cellular waste removal. Understanding this mechanism helps explain how failures in cellular cleaning contribute to aging and diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Mitochondria are known as the cell’s powerhouses, but new research shows they also guide cell movement. Using advanced imaging, this work reveals how mitochondria control direction and speed of migrating cells. Understanding this process may explain wound healing and how cancer cells spread throughout the body.

This research investigates how microplastics and nanoplastics affect human cells. Using laboratory models that mimic the digestive system, it examines how particle size and concentration influence toxicity. The findings show that smaller particles are more harmful, providing evidence that can inform safety regulations and reduce human exposure to plastic pollution.

Gamma herpesviruses infect up to 95% of humans and can cause cancer, yet lack effective treatments. Using super-resolution microscopy, this research overturns the classic model of viral exit, revealing that herpesviruses build internal transport structures to escape cells efficiently—reshaping how we understand infection and opening new therapeutic possibilities.

Balanced cell growth is essential: too much can cause cancer, too little can cause skeletal disorders. This PhD project investigates a mysterious protein linked to dwarfism. By tagging it with GFP, the researcher discovered it drives fat-droplet formation, revealing a previously unknown function that may explain its powerful effects on body growth.