Manolis Fanto

My lab is interested in the basic intracellular and intercellular mechanisms of nervous system homeostasis, which allow correct functioning of the brain in ageing and fail in neurodegeneration. A specific focus is placed on autophagy, an homeostatic mechanism for cell maintenance and renewal and on the consequences of its failure through primary or secondary dysfunctions. We recently became interested on the role of autophagy in the generation of seizures and in cell death. We study these topics utilizing a combination of model organisms (Drosophila and mice) and cell cultures (lines and primary cells) ad we have active collaborations with basic and clinical investigators both in the UK and abroad.