As a 2025 Schmidt Science Fellow, Matthew plans to develop new tools to study how our cells age in real-time. This will help us understand why we age and how we might promote healthy aging to improve quality of life in the elderly.
Our DNA is organized into structures called chromosomes. Each chromosome has a protective cap, the “telomere”, which is partially lost with each cell division. In old age, cells cannot function properly due to the loss of telomeres, increasing the risk of age-related diseases such as cancer and dementia.
Matthew will use cutting-edge imaging technology to track the loss of telomeres over time, understanding how telomeres are lost and why this stops cells from functioning.
Matthew will pivot from Cancer Biology to Biological Imaging