Biological membranes differentiate our cells from the extracellular environment and micro-organisms that cause disease. Essential to the function of these bio-membranes are the protein molecules embedded within them. My research uses Cryo-Electron Microscopy to visualise these membrane proteins in near-atomic detail to understand how they function in the context of health and disease. For example, how does a resistance transporter protein transport particular drugs selectively? How does a receptor recognise a specific molecule and turn this into a signal affecting cell behaviour? Visualising the structure of these proteins in complex with the molecules they interact with is often a necessary first step in understanding these phenomena for developing treatments and technologies that can benefit society.

My research group is also interested in using synthetic biology to engineer these membrane proteins within yeast for a particular purpose,  including the creation of living bio-sensors for disease diagnosis, displaying a synthetic library of "nanobodies" on their surface  and modifying the secretory pathway for high-yield production of valuable proteins.