Dr. Sonia Muliyil

My PhD thesis was focussed on  understanding the complex interplay between apoptotic signals and mitochondrial dynamics that drive a cell behaviour namely cell delamination. Using a combination of genetics and advanced microscopic imaging techniques, this work also  helped uncover complex signalling pathways and cell behaviours that contribute to both the dynamics and progress of Drosophila dorsal closure, a process routinely used to study wound healing responses. I finished my PhD in May, 2014 from the Tata Institute of Fundamental research, Mumbai (India) and almost immediately transitioned into my new phase of Post Doctoral work at the Freeman lab, Oxford. Work from this lab had identified a group of psudoprotease namely iRhoms to be involved in the ER associated degradation (ERAD) of EGF ligands in Drosophila . These pseudoenzymes were also highly enriched in the nervous system of flies thus stimulating me to uncover the physiological significance of this enrichment coupled with their role in ERAD.  Diversifying from my previous experience with flies, I have also started to utilise biochemistry, CRISPR and mammalian cell culture to hunt for conservation of functions and molecular mechanisms at play. My work is currently funded by EMBO and HFSP.

email: Sonia.muliyil(at)path.ox.ac.uk