This research investigates salivary gland damage caused by radiation therapy, disease and ageing. Focusing on cellular regulation, she identifies XBP1 as a key “manager” maintaining gland structure, cell survival and saliva production. Understanding this mechanism could guide future therapies for patients living with painful, incurable salivary gland dysfunction.

This research uses a high-throughput screening platform called EpiScan to identify HIV peptides that bind strongly to MHC molecules and appear on infected cell surfaces. By discovering these immune-visible targets, the work aims to improve detection and elimination of hidden HIV reservoirs, supporting the development of future HIV therapies.

This research investigates how glutamine-rich regions within the LAG-3 protein influence Notch signaling, a critical pathway for cell communication and development. Using CRISPR gene editing, the study found that removing glutamine repeats alters stem cell behavior and cell-cycle progression, providing insights relevant to cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and future therapies.

This research investigates how misfolded Islet Amyloid Polypeptide (IAPP), a protein associated with Type 2 diabetes, affects blood clot formation. Laboratory experiments showed that misfolded IAPP creates unusually dense and resilient clots. These findings may help explain elevated cardiovascular risk in diabetes and identify new targets for preventing heart attacks and strokes.

This research develops a method to deliver EGCG, a green tea compound known to break apart Alzheimer's-related protein tangles, into the brain. By chemically attaching EGCG to a carrier that can cross the brain's protective barrier, the project aims to create a potential therapeutic strategy for slowing memory loss and disease progression.

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 how the olfactory system of the Spanish ribbed newt adapts between aquatic and terrestrial environments. By analyzing cellular and genetic changes in the nose, the study reveals remarkable sensory plasticity, offering broader insights into nervous system flexibility and potential implications for understanding neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia.

This research investigates how Melatonin regulates sleep using zebrafish models. The work identifies the MT1 receptor as essential for melatonin-induced sleep and suggests melatonin may reduce responsiveness to visual stimuli during sleep, helping explain how the brain increases arousal thresholds and maintains nighttime sleep states.

This research applies large language models to decode and design proteins by treating amino acid sequences as biological languages. By identifying hidden structural and functional patterns across massive protein datasets, the work enables creation of novel proteins for medicine, cancer therapy, carbon capture, and environmental remediation beyond naturally evolved biological systems.

This research develops engineered ultrasonic reporters that allow ultrasound imaging to detect molecular activity rather than only anatomical structure. By targeting biological signals associated with cancer progression and cellular communication, the work aims to distinguish aggressive disease earlier and improve precision medicine through real-time, noninvasive monitoring of underlying cellular behavior.