This study introduces a “brain stress test” for depression, combining targeted brain stimulation with neuroimaging. Depressed individuals show exaggerated brain responses, which increase with repeated episodes. The test may serve as an early warning signal, helping clinicians identify relapse risk and intervene before depression returns.

Psychiatric symptoms often precede neurodegenerative diseases, but the biological link remains unclear. This research examines the FMR1 gene using postmortem brain tissue to uncover shared molecular mechanisms, aiming to predict neurodegeneration earlier, improve treatment strategies, and reframe psychiatric symptoms as potential early warning signs.

My research investigates collagen-binding receptors on breast cancer cells as potential biomarkers to distinguish harmless early-stage tumours from aggressive ones. Using genetically matched 3D cancer models, the project identifies how receptor activity affects invasion and collagen organization, aiming to reduce overtreatment and support clearer clinical decisions for early breast cancer patients.

This research focuses on developing reliable blood-based biomarkers to evaluate new treatments for hereditary frontotemporal dementia. By identifying an imbalance between two key molecules, progranulin and prosaposin, the work aims to provide accurate measures of treatment effectiveness and bring hope to families carrying this devastating genetic condition

My research uses spatial RNA sequencing to map where genes are expressed within tissues affected by chronic inflammatory diseases. By capturing genetic information with precise spatial coordinates, it creates an atlas of disease-driving genes. This deeper understanding may reveal new biomarkers and therapeutic targets, enabling future treatments beyond symptom management.