Prof. Jody Rosenblatt
Principal Investigator

Fatima Lugtu
PhD candidate

Anastassia Tchoumakova
PhD candidate

I joined Rosenblatt lab in my second year of Biochemistry BSc at King's College London. Before I got to know the team and worked on the project alongside Saranne Mitchell, I knew I was very interested in cancer research. But it was only after my summer internship and a part-time job at Rosenblatt's Lab I realized I wanted to pursue my career in this field. I am currently working on epithelial cell extrusion regulation by modulating cell stiffness and writing my dissertation about that. For recharging, I would choose travel, design, football and yoga! email

Dustin Bagley
Postdoc

I originally hail from Salt Lake City, Utah where I completed my undergraduate work and doctoral training in the Molecular Biology PhD program at the University of Utah, under the supervision of Jerry Kaplan studying membrane trafficking and iron metabolism, in yeast and mammalian systems. I came to Jody’s lab as a postdoc at the Huntsman Cancer Institute in 2017 via Naples and Milan, where I worked in the groups of Andrea Ballabio and Pier Paolo Di Fiore studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms of genetic diseases in the context of autophagy and endocytosis. Currently, in Jody’s group, we are studying the mechanics of asthma focusing on the epithelium and the damage done to it by bronchoconstriction events using tissue culture, precision-cut ex vivo lung slices and mouse models, hoping to implement a novel therapeutic approach to an old problem. email

Isabel Uwagboe
Postdoc

John Fadul
Postdoc

I am a native of Manila. I completed my bachelor’s degree at the University of the Philippines, before moving to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City for my PhD in Oncological Sciences. There I worked with Dr. Stephen Lessnick, studying the transcriptional regulation of cell identity in Ewing sarcoma, a pediatric bone-associated cancer. Currently, I investigate how cancer cells exploit basal cell extrusion to invade using various vertebrate systems. We believe that a clearer understanding of the earliest metastatic steps is pivotal to how we diagnose and treat malignancies. Outside the lab I enjoy nature, novels and short fiction, film, and modern art. email

Faith Fore
PhD candidate

I studied Biochemistry with the University of Zimbabwe, crossed oceans to Indonesia where I earned a master's in Immunology with Universitas Airlangga, and the thirst for knowledge deepened, which resulted in me joining the Rosenblatt lab as a PhD student. I am currently working on the role of extrusion in asthma, where I focus on extrusion of rhinovirus and its contribution to airway smooth muscle remodelling. If you find me vlogging, editing videos, reading a novel, or lost in the beauty of nature, just know that I have some time to spare. email

Konstantinos Kalyviotis
Postdoc

I am a Molecular Biologist with a PhD in Bioengineering from Imperial College London, specialising in the development of cutting-edge imaging tools to visualise and quantify the intricate processes of life within living cells. My research spans multiple biological scales, and I am currently focused on deciphering the mechanics and signalling pathways of single cells involved in cell extrusion - a fundamental process that drives epithelial cell death, maintaining balance across species, from simple organisms like sea sponges to humans. Outside the lab, I enjoy reading, listening to music, and taking long walks in nature. email

Saranne Mitchell
Postdoc

Currently, I investigate biomechanical cues that may predict and drive cell extrusion at the individual cell level. Using mathematical programs and a variety of microscopy techniques including wide field, confocal, and quantitative phase I am able to explore mechanical cues in epithelial cell culture. When I am not researching, I enjoy skiing, painting, reading, and a good glass of wine. email

Tobias Russell
Postdoc

I did my PhD flirting between rheumatology & immunology at the University of Leeds. Where I was investigating how two populations of mesenchymal stem cells were being driven by aberrant immune cell activation to over repair tissue damage at the spinal enthesis, leading to remodelling of the bone and attached ligaments into a diseased state. The idea of tissue remodelling after damage is where I tie in with the Rosenblatt lab, where I will primarily be working on the remodelling of the smooth muscle in the airway which plays a role in bronchoconstriction. Outside of the lab you might find me outside in the wild somewhere or getting injured playing any number of sports. email

Lily Gates
PhD candidate

I first joined the Rosenblatt lab in my third year of my Biochemistry MSci at King's College London. During this time, I researched potential signalling pathways of epithelial cell extrusion. I enjoyed it so much that I continued the project into my fourth year of my Masters, and now I am a PhD student in this lab, focusing more on the role of starvation on extrusion and the maintenance of the epithelial monolayer. When I am not in the lab, I'm playing football, reading or by the sea! email

Alexandros Sanchez-Vassopoulos
PhD candidate

Prior to joining the Rosenblatt Lab, I completed my Master’s in Translational Neuroscience at Imperial College, specializing in neuronal regeneration and repair following spinal cord injury. During my time here, I will be investigating how senescent epithelial cells lose their potential to extrude and thus accumulate in epithelial tissue as we age, contributing to tissue dysfunction. By elucidating this process, we can selectively eliminate senescent cells, by restoring their potential to extrude, leading to the restoration of tissue functionality and healthy aging. Outside the lab, I enjoy cooking, a good movie and quality time with friends and family. email

Past Members

Alexandra Berr, postdoc

Carlos Pardo-Pastor, postdoc

Laura Akintche, MRes student/research assistant

Alice Lefever, MRes student

Katharine Rushbrook, MRes student

Anna Etzenberger, MRes student

Teresa Zulueta-Coarasa, postdoc

Lachlan Beckingham, postdoc

Neshika Wijewardhane, MRes Student

Karolina Sek, undergraduate

Sabrina Bouhafs, undergraduate

​Swapna Gudipaty, postdoc/lab manager

Merry Joseph, undergraduate

Nadja Redd, undergraduate

Polly Redd, undergraduate

Franco Jin, undergraduate

Kaitlyn Fox, undergraduate

Danielle Hedeen, PhD student

Crystal Davey, postdoc

Kristina Fox, undergraduate

Conan Kinsey, postdoc

Gloria Slattum, PhD student/postdoc

George Eisenhoffer, postdoc

Yapeng Gu, postdoc

Thomas Marshall, postdoc

Jean-Marie Delalande, postdoc

Daniel Andrade-Sanchez, PhD student

Patrick Loftus, undergraduate

Jael Lindblom, MD fellow