Ralitsa Madsen opens Independent Investigator laboratory within the MRC PPU

Ralitsa is undertaking pioneering research, aimed at understanding the context-dependent regulation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) network and how this links to various human diseases, including cancer and overgrowth syndromes. Ralitsa is applying a highly quantitative approach, involving state-of-the-art imaging and mass spectrometry, in addition to exploitation of pharmacological tools.  

Ralitsa is also a passionate advocate for research with integrity, transparent sharing of all results without unnecessary delays, and care and respect for others as part of a healthy research culture. Ralitsa has made significant contributions to these areas over the last few years both, nationally and internationally. Last year, she was appointed to serve a three-year term on the inaugural UK Committee on Research Integrity (UK CORI), which was set up following a recommendation by the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee. She has also done a lot of work to support CLOVES Syndrome Community, a charity that supports research and provides help to people impacted by PI3KCA-driven overgrowth syndromes. 

Ralitsa currently holds a Henry Wellcome Fellowship and comes to us from UCL.

Ralitsa says “I value research done with rigour and openness, within a supportive and collaborative scientific environment. The MRC PPU is a rare gem that has it all, while also being thematically aligned with my research interests. I am therefore incredibly lucky to be joining and learning from this community of excellence, an opportunity that will undoubtedly advance my research on quantitative PI3K signalling and my personal growth as an independent scientist.”

Dario Alessi, Director of the MRC PPU says “We are delighted to have the opportunity to host Ralitsa’s laboratory within the MRC PPU and are excited about the research that she has undertaken to date and her future plans. This has strong potential to lead to knowledge that could help better treat diseases such as cancer and overgrowth syndromes caused by genetic overactivation of PI3K signalling. The enormous work that Ralitsa has done on integrity, open science, research culture and CLOVES/PROS patient advocacy is also incredibly impressive”.”

Visit the MRC PPU website to learn more about Ralitsa’s scientific background.