We explore how cells maintain genome stability using yeast cells as a model. Specifically, we investigate repetitive DNA such as telomeres and the rDNA loci. We are interested in both telomere maintenance and DNA repair mechanisms.

Obesity is a major inducer of type II diabetes and it is estimated by the World Health Organization that over 500 million people worldwide suffer from either of these disorders, with the incidence increasing dramatically over the last 10 years.

Regulation of cell fate decision is fundamental to development, disease, and regeneration. We address how gene regulatory systems guide the assembly of complex biological patterns by investigating stem cell biology and cell fate decision mechanisms.

We investigate the physiology and molecular mechanisms of energy metabolism from the organism to the molecule. We focus on metabolic aspects during obesity, adipose tissue biology, mitochondrial mechanisms and thermogenesis.

The main focus of our research group is to understand how endocrine crosstalk, involving adipose tissue, controls mammalian energy metabolism. Our goal is to identify target mechanisms for novel therapeutic strategies to fight obesity.

We study transcriptional control of embryo development using cutting-edge genomic technologies and advanced Drosophila genetics.