Functional analysis of proteins related to cell death in non-lethal biological scenarios.

Numerous proteins initially identified as regulators of cell death programs appear to support basic cellular functions without inducing cell death. Leveraging our lab's expertise and resources, we aim to uncover the molecular regulation and implementation of these newly emerging non-lethal functions in both physiological and pathological contexts, with a special focus on the evolutionarily conserved caspase protein family. This knowledge not only could enhance our understanding of caspase biology but also could pave the way for developing caspase-based therapies for various diseases, ranging from cancer to neuromuscular disorders. Additionally, our lab excels in modelling human diseases in Drosophila tissues and developing advanced gene expression techniques, further enhancing our research capabilities.