Dr. Gillian Griffiths

Biography

Professor Gillian M Griffiths is a leading researcher at the University of Cambridge, with a focus on the mechanisms controlling the secretion of immunological synapses, particularly within cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Her work explores how CTLs communicate and coordinate immune responses, emphasizing the importance of the immunological synapse formed between effector cells and antigen-presenting cells. Professor Griffiths's lab employs a wide array of functional, biochemical, and imaging techniques to delve into these processes. Through close clinical collaborations, she investigates genetic diseases such as Haemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis that disrupt these mechanisms, aiming to identify the necessary machinery for granule delivery and fusion at the synapse. She has made significant discoveries regarding the secretory mechanisms of CTL and NK cells, focusing on centrosome polarization as a crucial factor in secretion at the immunological synapse, which bears similarities to cilia formation. By using live imaging techniques, her group aims to dissect the dynamics of the secretory machinery in real-time, thereby enhancing our understanding of the fundamental processes governing immune responses.

Research Interests