Exploring how endocytic recycling of receptor tyrosine kinases specifies cellular responses

Chiara is a cell biologist who focuses on exploring how the trafficking of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) from and to the plasma membrane can elicit specific cellular responses. She uses functional proteomics, which integrates quantitative mass-spectrometry-based proteomics, bioinformatics analysis, functional assays and imaging techniques. Her research is aimed at uncovering the molecular mechanisms underlying the intracellular trafficking of RTKs, resultant signalling specificity, and downstream outputs during development and cancer progression. The final goal is to identify and characterise proteins with key roles in RTK signalling and trafficking that can be targeted for intervention in human diseases.