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Maximiliano Gutierrez is a cell biologist originally from Mendoza, Argentina. He obtained his PhD in cell biology from the University of San Luis, Argentina in 2005, where he discovered a novel innate immune pathway termed 'Xenophagy'. After completing his PhD, he moved to EMBL Heidelberg in Germany for postdoctoral work in Gareth Griffiths' laboratory, funded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation as an EMBO fellow. His research in Heidelberg focused on cell biology and imaging of macrophages, where he developed a passion for Electron Microscopy. In 2009, he initiated an independent research group at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research in Braunschweig, Germany, leading a Junior Research Group on 'Phagosome Biology'. By 2012, he was recruited as a Programme Leader at the Medical Research Council's National Institute for Medical Research in London, UK, eventually joining the Francis Crick Institute in 2015 as a Group Leader, achieving the position of Senior Group Leader in 2018. His research interests include cellular mechanisms regulating host-pathogen interactions, particularly with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. His lab is focused on understanding the host cell factors that contribute to the control of M. tuberculosis and the strategies the pathogen employs to hijack host cells, utilizing advanced imaging technologies and various model systems.
The Francis Crick Institute does not have traditional 'departments' but operates via interdisciplinary research groups. Candidates apply to the 'Crick PhD Programme' and select specific research topics or labs (e.g., Cell Biology, Immunology, Cancer Research) that align with the listed department names. Students register with one of three partner universities: UCL, King's College London, or Imperial College London.