Investigating immune cell chemotaxis by using Chromophore Assisted Light Inactivation (CALI) to manipulate actin regulators in real time

Actin plays an important role in immune cell recruitment during inflammation, and Andrew wants to understand how such behaviour is derived from the competing activity of a diverse set of actin regulators. In the lab of Professor Will Wood at the University of Bristol, Andrew will study the macrophages of the Drosophila embryo, combining the power of Drosophila genetics with advanced imaging techniques. He will then move to the lab of Professor Mark Peifer, at UNC Chapel Hill, to compare and contrast the movement of individual macrophages with the collective migration of epithelial tissues.