Francesca Mattiroli selected to join EMBO Young Investigator Program

Mattiroli was selected together with 25 other researchers to join the prestigious EMBO Young Investigator community of more than 700 current and former awardees. Their research topics vary from detailing the mechanisms underlying serious health conditions, to exploring the evolution of multicellular life, and investigating how interactions amongst sea creatures impact carbon capture in the oceans. With the support of this program, Mattiroli will explore mechanisms of chromatin assembly during DNA replication.

Studying how chromatin is made

Our DNA is tightly packaged within the nucleus into a structure named chromatin. Chromatin controls which genes are turned on and which are turned off. Therefore, chromatin decides how cells behave and ensures that they do not become sick. Chromatin is dynamic and it has to be made anew every time a cell divides. Together with her group, Mattiroli studies how chromatin is made. “This process involves close to 100 proteins in humans,” Mattiroli explains. “We build this process from scratch outside of cells to understand its basic principles. We then test in cells how these principles ensure that chromatin is properly made, and cells can divide without getting sick. Our fundamental research can help to find new cures for cancer, and improve ageing and regenerative medicine,” says Mattiroli.

EMBO Young Investigator community

Starting in January 2024, the participants have access to a wide range of benefits, including networking opportunities, training in leadership skills and responsible research practices, support for lab members, and access to core facilities at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). “I am very excited to be part of the EMBO Young Investigator community.  I look forward to interacting with all the other scientists in this network to build new collaborations and make my science more visible and far-reaching,” Mattiroli says. Fiona Watt, EMBO Director states: “Connections made early in your career can play a defining role in your scientific journey, regardless of the chosen path. The Young Investigator Program aims to catalyze such interactions by offering scientists opportunities to build international networks and explore different ways of doing science. The exceptional young scientists joining the program will, no doubt, have a tremendous impact in their respective research fields in the years ahead.”