Dr Vanessa Sancho Shimizu
Spanning gene and protein expression, cell-based assays, and patient-derived organoid modelling, this theme brings together cross-disciplinary expertise to validate genetic variants. This theme supports the development, optimization, and dissemination of molecular and patient-based assays to interrogate gene function in health and disease. Drawing on Imperial’s cross-disciplinary strengths in molecular biology, genomics, and translational medicine, our goal is to enable high-quality, reproducible functional readouts across diverse biological systems.
- Molecular functional screens
- Patient-derived cellular models including primary cells and iPSCs
- Organoid systems for disease modelling and functional validation
By connecting foundational biology with patient-specific models, we aim to accelerate the translation of genomic insights into mechanistic understanding and clinical application. This theme also fosters resource sharing and standardization to benefit the wider Imperial genomics community. By uniting research strengths and shared infrastructure across Imperial, it fills a critical gap offering a collaborative platform for functional validation and advancing translational genomics.