Biography
Currently, she is pioneering the characterisation of human female reproductive tissues using single-cell genomics, focusing on how the tissue microenvironment orchestrates their development and function – a critical step in developing robust in vitro models. Notably, this work has already led to the discovery of novel cell types in the adult endometrium and developing gonads, with significant implications for disease research.
Her previous research focused on leveraging computational biology with existing biological knowledge to study cell signalling in reproductive biology and oncology. During her PhD, she developed methods to link disease-associated variants with protein signalling, thereby identifying critical mutations in both inherited disorders and cancers. In her postdoctoral work, she modelled drug responses in cancer cells using gene expression data and developed Dorothea – a framework for estimating transcription factor activities – which has garnered over 800 citations.