Research Overview:

Our research explores one of the most fundamental challenges in biology — how cells maintain the stability of their genomes. At the heart of this question lie telomeres, the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that safeguard our genetic material from degradation and unwanted repair. The shelterin complex, a group of specialized proteins, orchestrates telomere protection and regulates access of telomerase, the enzyme that extends telomeres. While essential for healthy cells, this system is hijacked in nearly all cancers to enable uncontrolled cell proliferation.

Using a uniquely interdisciplinary approach, our group combines advanced fluorescence microscopy, single-molecule imaging, targeted genome editing, and cellular cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) to visualize telomeres and their associated proteins in unprecedented detail — directly inside human cells. This multiscale imaging strategy allows us to connect molecular architecture with dynamic function, bridging the gap between structural biology and cell biology.

Our ultimate goal is to define how shelterin coordinates telomere protection and elongation and uncover telomere-specific vulnerabilities that can be exploited for next-generation cancer therapies. Beyond telomeres, our methodological framework offers a powerful toolbox for studying any chromatin-associated protein complex in its native context.