My research in the laboratory of the Nobel Laureate Dr. Thomas A. Steitz at Yale University focuses on the mechanism of the initiation of protein synthesis in human cells. Protein biosynthesis is one of the most intensely studied cellular processes, which is accomplished by the concerted action of protein factors and the ribosome, which efficiently “translate” the genetic information encoded in messenger RNA (mRNA) into proteins. I study how translation initiation complex is assembled on cellular mRNA and how viruses, such as the hepatitis C virus (HCV) or the Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) hijack the cellular translation initiation machinery to switch translation on its own RNA. A growing number of data shows that abnormalities in the initiation of protein synthesis are involved in the malignant transformation of the cell. In order to develop new anti-cancer therapeutics, I am also investigating how components of translation initiation machinery are involved in this process.In my research, I apply biochemical and biophysical methods, including macromolecular X-ray crystallography, high throughput screening and state of the art chromatography.