Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom
I am an experienced scientist in mechanistic investigation of complex cellular signalling pathways highly relevant to human pathologies to uncover potential therapeutic targets. My broad scientific journey started as a plant molecular biologist, before moving on to cancer biology, and my current work on membrane proteins/pseudoproteases. I have designed and led several projects resulting in high-impact publications with innovative approaches and by establishing collaborations across different scientific disciplines. These projects involved the use of advanced molecular and biochemical techniques, cellular and animal models, human tissues, cellular imaging, transcriptomics, and proteomics.
• Investigated how polytopic membrane proteins iRhoms control stress-induced cell death via intracellular calcium signalling pathways • Investigated the process leading to the generation of multiple forms of iRhoms, their cellular functions and relevance in certain human pathologies
• Designated first aider after obtaining QA Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work
• Co-led a consultancy training project helping a med-tech startup to find Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) to join their future Scientific Advisory Board and to advance their product exposure on the global market.
• Explored the regulation of p73, a tumour suppressor, by hypoxia in cancer and its effect on the angiogenic transcriptional program affecting tumour vasculature and growth
• Investigated the mechanism controlling the level of an oncogenic form of p73 under genotoxic stresses, involving the antizyme-mediated protein degradation pathway
• Assessed the effect of chemotherapeutic drugs on the regulation (protein stability, pro-apoptotic activity, gene expression) of p73 in cancer cells
• Isolated and characterised a new cell wall invertase gene during the ripening stages of Musa Acuminata (banana) for final year honours project
• Undertook a full time research project working on jasmonate signalling pathway in Arabidopsis Thaliana as part of degree requirement