The mechanism of mRNA transport and localised translation during axis specification and synaptic plasticity

Ilan’s group focuses on elucidating the post-transcriptional mechanisms that regulate pattern formation in the oocyte and neural stem cell division and renewal. They combine genetics, biochemistry, transcriptomics and advanced live cell imaging and image analysis methods to study these processes in Drosophila. They are investigating the RNA signals and associated RNA binding proteins of gurken, which encodes a TGF-alpha signal and defines the anterior-posterior and dorso-ventral axes, and Prospero, a transcription factor that is the key to determining neural stem cell fate. Ilan is the director of Micron, an interdisciplinary hub focusing on super resolution microscopy.