Dr. Dina Vlachou

Biography

Dina Vlachou is a molecular biologist with specialized expertise in disease vector parasite genetics, supported by a robust background in functional genomics. Before joining Imperial College London as a Senior Research Fellow, she undertook postdoctoral training in vector parasite research at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation Research Technology Hellas (IMBB-FORTH) in Crete, Greece, and at the Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC) in the Netherlands. She also contributed to the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, as a Marie Curie Independent Career Development Fellow. Her research involves unraveling the complexities of malaria transmission biology, specifically focusing on the interactions between malaria parasites and their mosquito vectors. Her work centers on the mechanisms of sexual sporogonic development of the malaria parasite, immune evasion strategies of plutonia, and innovative interventions targeting malaria transmission. She has led several groundbreaking projects that utilize advanced genetic engineering techniques to develop transgenic mosquitoes and nanobodies to disrupt Plasmodium life cycles, aiming to identify novel targets for malaria intervention strategies. Her extensive research is published in prestigious journals, contributing significantly to the field of malaria control and vector biology.

Research Interests

Experience