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Dr Zita Balklava

Supervisor Details

Dr Zita Balklava

Contact Details

Dr Zita Balklava

School of Biosciences, Aston University

Research Interests

Currently, work in my lab focuses on understanding the cross-talk of membrane trafficking and cell signalling within the cell via deciphering interactions and trafficking of several membrane proteins/receptors:

  1. Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor (FGFR): understanding how FGFR and its downstream signalling pathways regulate membrane trafficking;
  2. Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP): dissecting physiological role of APP by studying its trafficking, the interactors of its intracellular domain and the biological consequences of these interactions.
  3. Aquaporin 4 (AQP4): identifying the key membrane transport regulators involved in trafficking AQP4 between the plasma membrane and intracellular vesicles in response to changes in osmolarity.

Recently I have established a collaboration to study the role of Stress Granules in C. elegans Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease models.

Scientific Inspiration

My main inspiration is my father who was a scientist and a professor. He was always supportive of my goals and natural interest in biology to explore how the world works.


MIBTP Project Details

Previous Projects (2024-25)

Primary supervisor for:

Previous Projects (2023-24)

Primary supervisor for:

Co-supervisor on a project with Dr Cathy Slack.