People

Franziska Denk, Group Leader

Besides working on our research, I am very keen on fostering open, reproducible and interdisciplinary science.

I am Co-Director of a Wellcome Trust funded PhD Training Programme in Neuro-immune Interactions and am passionate about data sharing. Check out our resources page for many exciting RNA-seq web-tools relevant to pain and neuro-immune research.

My lab is keen to engage with diverse stakeholders in pain research, such as charities and industrial partners.

Academic Background

2009- 2017: Postdoctoral research with Prof Stephen McMahon (King's College London)

2005 - 2009: Wellcome-Trust funded DPhil in Neuroscience (Supervisor: Prof Richard Wade-Martins, University of Oxford)

2004 - 2005: MSc in Neuroscience (New College, University of Oxford)

2001 - 2004: BA in Experimental Psychology (St. Hilda's College, University Oxford)

Katja Freytag, PhD student

My PhD project focuses on how different T cell subtypes, mostly regulatory T cells, can directly or indirectly affect sensory neurons in the joint of individuals with inflammatory arthritis. I will look into this question on a bioinformatic and in vitro level by utilising existing datasets, describing the cells on a transcriptional level, as well as primary patient samples and iPSC derived sensory neurons.

By investigating these basic pain mechanisms in the periphery in inflammatory arthritis, I hope to uncover new ways to help people who continue to experience persistent pain, in spite of taking anti-inflammatory treatments. For this, I am co-supervised by Prof Leonie Taams.

Academic Background

2024: Research assistant, Kierdorf Lab, Institute of Neuropathology, Freiburg, Germany

2021-2024: MSc in Molecular Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Germany

2023: Internship, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia

2018-2021: BSc in Molecular Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Germany

2014-2018: BA in Media Economics, Stuttgart Media University, Germany

George Goodwin, Postdoc Fellow

I am interested in understanding peripheral pain mechanisms. To study this, I mostly use in vivo and ex vivo electrophysiological and imaging techniques.

I have recently obtained MRC funding to study spontaneous sensory neuron activity in musculoskeletal pain conditions, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Academic Background

2018-2021: Postdoc in Prof. Stephen McMahon’s group - WCARD, King’s College London

2014-2018: Neuroscience PhD in Prof Andrew Dilley’s group - Brighton and Sussex Medical School

2011 – 2012: Industry Placement - AstraZeneca, Safety Pharmacology, Alderley Park

2009-2013: MSci Pharmacology - University of Bristol

Trishalee Gungoosingh, PhD student

My PhD project is on the role of the sympathetic nervous system in influencing inflammation and pain in rheumatoid arthritis. For this, I am co-supervised by Prof Leonie Taams.

Academic Background

2024-present: Neuro-Immune Interactions in Health & Disease Wellcome Trust PhD at King’s College London

2022-2024: Research Assistant in the Simões lab at University of Oxford

2021-2022: MScR Integrative Neuroscience at the University of Edinburgh

2016-2020: MSci Pharmacology at University College London

Alina-Cristina Marin, Postdoc

I am a sensory systems neuroscientist passionate about all things home cage behaviour, using naturalistic sensory landscapes and automation of behavioural tasks. My research also involves in vivo calcium imaging of neurons in the dorsal root ganglion.

I am passionate about Research Culture, Credibility in Neuroscience, Animal Welfare and Open Science.

Academic Background

2017-2022: PhD in Neuroscience at Francis Crick Institute / UCL, supervised by Prof Andreas Schaefer

2013-2017: BSc (Hons) in Neuroscience, University of Glasgow

Takunda Ngwenya, PhD Student

My PhD project focuses on keloid scars, specifically on characterizing and understanding the itch sensations that are often experienced by those living with keloids. For this, I am co-supervised by Dr Tanya Shaw.

Academic Background

2021-2023: MSc Medicine (Chemical Biology) by research, University of Cape Town

2015-2018: BSc Honours in Applied Biosciences and Biotechnology (with industrial placement), Midlands State University

Julia Vlachaki Walker, Postdoc

My project focuses on investigating the involvement of fibroblasts in the development of chronic pain, with a focus on rheumatoid arthritis.

For this I am using inflammatory arthritis models and flow cytometry/FACS techniques to study the changes in cellular composition in the knee joint.

Academic Background

2018-2023: PhD on Inflammation & Obesity, Imperial College London (PI: Chris Schiering)

2013-2018: Research Technician & part-time MPhil in Medical Studies, University of Dundee & University of Exeter (PI: Craig Beall)

2012-2013: Research Technician, University of Dundee (PI: Will Fuller)

2009-2012: BSc (Hons) in Neuroscience, University of Dundee

Irene Zebochin, PhD student

My PhD project is looking at how pericytes can influence sensory neurons and chronic pain in rheumatoid arthritis. For this, I am using a combination of animal models and human in vitro systems. My pronouns are they/them.

Academic Background

2022-2023: MScR Integrative Neuroscience, University of Edinburgh

2019-2022: BSc Neuroscience, University of Edinburgh

Past Team Members:

**Sara Buskbjerg Jager, Postdoc** https://www.saraejager.com/

**Isabella Doria Durazzo, Research Assistant**

**Sara Villa Hernandez, Postdoc Fellow**