Ulrike Gruneberg is Professor of Molecular Cell Biology at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology. She is also Fellow and Tutor of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Keble College.
Ulrike research group focuses on understanding the mechanics and regulation of cell division and chromosome segregation in human cells. In particular, Ulrike is interested in the cellular origins of cancer and the role of chromosome segregation errors in initiating tumorigenesis. Aneuploidy, the condition where chromosomes are either lost or gained, is a consequence of faulty chromosome segregation and is considered both a hallmark and a driving force for tumorigenesis. A better appreciation of the processes ensuring accurate chromosome segregation may therefore lead to novel therapeutic approaches for cancer. Many molecular players contributing to the formation of the mitotic spindle and kinetochores have recently been identified, however, the precise biochemical activities of these components and how they are dynamically regulated throughout mitosis is often not understood. Ulrike’s goal is to integrate the identification of components contributing to mitotic progression with the characterization of their biological function.
At Keble Ulrike teaches Molecular Biology, Immunology and the Biology of Cancer. In the Department she lectures on a range of topics including Epidemiology and Vaccine Design, Gene Expression and Chromosome Biology.