Experience

Rafus Menu
• Lithuania
• Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Rappresentante per l`Italia dei prodotti Rafus Menu

  • Nov 2021 - Present


Institute of Life Sciences

• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Principal Investigator

  • Oct 2019 - Present

  Modulation of membrane lipid composition and organization is an effective therapeutic strategy against cancer. In my lab we test the pleiotropic effects of statins (effects independent by cholesterol lowering) on membrane bilayers using biological and biophysical methods, In particular, we focus on how statins-mediated changes in lipid membrane microdomains could influence sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents. Modulation of membrane lipid composition and organization is an effective therapeutic strategy against cancer. In my lab we test the pleiotropic effects of statins (effects independent by cholesterol lowering) on membrane bilayers using biological and biophysical methods, In particular, we focus on how statins-mediated changes in lipid membrane microdomains could influence sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents.


Vilniaus universitetas / Vilnius University
• Lithuania
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee
• Senior Researcher

  • Apr 2015 - Sep 2019


Swansea University

• United Kingdom
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Research officer

  • Mar 2013 - Mar 2015

  Pore-forming toxins (PFTs) are secreted proteins that contribute to the virulence of bacterial pathogens. The mechanism of action is to disrupt the plasma membrane integrity. After plasma membrane damage, cells activate a wide range of signalling pathways aimed at restoring plasma membrane integrity and ion homeostasis. My project is to investigate which are the protective mechanisms involved in response to a particular class of PFTs named cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs) using biological (primary cells) and biophysical (artificial tethered bilayer membranes) systems.



Karolinska Institutet

• Sweden
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Postdoctoral Fellow

  • Jan 2008 - Aug 2012

  Apoptotic cells are removed by a process involving recognition and phagocytosis by professional phagocytes (macrophages). These events are critical for efficient corpse elimination and to prevent the release of cytotoxic cellular contents that could lead to a severe autoimmune response. My project aimed at the identification of new actors involved in the disposal of the apoptotic cells (i.e. programmed cell clearance). My studies suggest a critical and conserved role of mitochondria, and specifically of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), for the signaling events leading to Phosphatidylserine (PS). exposure during death receptor-induced apoptosis.


Universitá Ferrara
• Italy
• Higher Education
• 1 - 100 Employee
• PhD in Experimental Oncology

  • Sep 2003 - Sep 2006