Abstract: Caspase-1 is activated within signalling complexes called inflammasomes, which are also regulated by related caspases-4/5 and -8. Inflammasome signalling pathways are important for host defence against infection but also cause inflammation in a number of diseases. My group investigates the cell intrinsic actions of caspases by identifying and studying their new substrates. We also study mechanisms of activation of inflammasomes and their subversion by enteric bacterial pathogens.

Biography: I started my first independent position at the MRC CMBI at Imperial College (Oct 2013) and also have a Satellite Group at the Francis Crick Institute (Oct 2018). I completed my MS-PhD degrees at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India (1999-2005) where I studied cAMP signalling in mycobacteria. For my postdoc, I switched sides and studied mammalian innate immunity at the Dept of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale School of Medicine.