I joined Jürg Gertsch’s team at the University of Bern as a postdoctoral researcher in 2021. My work focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of endocannabinoid membrane transport in the brain. Anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol are endocannabinoid derivatives of arachidonic acid, found in membrane phospholipids. How modulation of brain arachidonic acid lipid signalling networks influence endocannabinoid signalling is currently unknown. The multidisciplinary nature of the NCCR TransCure network allows me to collaborate with people of diverse expertise, which has enabled me to aim to establish a comprehensive brain-region specific metabolomic and lipidomic map of the interface between endocannabinoid and arachidonic acid signalling. By integrating high-resolution targeted metabolomics and structural biochemistry with neurobiology, I aim to draw causal relationships that can be targeted for the treatment of anxiety and PTSD.

I have been a PhD student in Christine Peinelt’s group at the University of Bern since October 2021. I am working on 2D and 3D cellular models of colorectal cancer (CRC) to better understand how the TRPM4 cation channel influences CRC hallmarks. CRC is one of the leading types of cancer worldwide and has the second-highest mortality rate. TRPM4 has been implicated in playing a pivotal role in different types of cancer, such as CRC. For this reason, the study of TRPM4 and its inhibitors on CRC is of great importance. Part of my PhD work will include the study of TRPM4 in 2D and 3D cultures of established CRC cell lines and patient samples to assess how the channel influences viability, migration, invasion, ion conductivity, and cell cycle regulation. Through the NCCR TransCure, I have the chance to interact with people that also work in the same field. I can exchange ideas and find solutions to problems. This collaboration is really interesting and useful, and I am thankful to be part of this community.

In the NCCR TransCure, I was part of Dimitrios Fotiadis’ group at the University of Bern for several years, working with great colleagues and contributing to many scientific articles. I have very good memories of that time. Thanks to the NCCR TransCure experience, I am now evolving my career as a scientist in the field of in-vitro diagnostics, development, production and distribution of assays and devices at a private company. In this role, I am planning and performing various stability and analytical assays together with other group members. We check and assure that the product specifications match the declaration to the authorities, meaning that we are also generating data for the product booklet. Moreover, during and after the assessment steps, I collaborate strongly with other departments such as development, regulatory affairs, customer support and marketing, which brings additional opportunities for the next steps of my career.

I was an NCCR TransCure postdoctoral fellow in Karl-Heinz Altmann’s group at ETH Zurich for two years. There, I had the opportunity to work in a wonderfully collaborative and stimulating environment, including different research areas. This gave me the chance to acquire a broad knowledge of different fields and the opportunity to interact with experts from various scientific backgrounds. Recently, I was awarded an “ICIQ Impulsion” fellowship to carry out my second postdoctoral position in the group of Antonio M. Echavarren at the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ) in Tarragona, Spain. There, my work is focused on the enantioselective gold(I)-catalysed polycyclisations of enynes as well as the development of new phosphine-based chiral ligands. The new methodologies are being applied to the total synthesis of several natural products.