Defining mechano-signalling pathways in lung inflammation

Asthma is a major health problem affecting millions of people globally. This disease is characterised by acute or chronic lung inflammation, epithelial cell activation and tissue remodelling/fibrosis. Immune cells trigger changes in the lung epithelium leading to loss...

Promotion of oral carcinogenesis by Candida albicans

Head and neck cancers (HNC) are oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) that develop in fields premalignant mucosa, histologically diagnosed as oral epithelial dysplasia (OED). Chronic infection is associated with OED and OSCC but the mechanisms driving these...

Explaining the sexual dimorphism in Lupus through genetics

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Strikingly 9/10 SLE cases are women, yet little is understood as to why. Hormonal and environmental factors are believed to be partly responsible, and while there is...

Gene regulation mechanisms underlying interneuron diversity

Cortical interneurons comprise over 20 types of cells with distinct morphologies and functions. Correct development of this group of neurons is essential for normal neural and cognitive functions. How different types of interneurons emerge from common progenitor...

The role of the actin cytoskeleton for cytotoxic T cells

Our group is interested in the understanding the signalling pathways that control the migration of cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) into tumour tissues and the subsequent killing of their target cells. We do this by a combination of in vitro biochemistry and cell biology...