Dr. Aoife Heaslip

Principle Investigator

Molecular and Cell Biology

Education:

Ph.D: University of Vermont 2002-2008

Postdoctoral Associate: Indiana Univeristy, Bloomington 2008-2010

Postdoctoral Associate: University of Vermont 2010-2014

Assistant Professor: University of Vermont 2014-2016

BS University College Dublin,

Research Interests: My Lab is focused on understanding the biology of human pathogen Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite and the causative agent of Toxoplasmosis. Parasite survival and hence disease pathogenesis rely on its ability to secrete proteins from specialized secretory organelles, called the dense granules, into the host. We are using a combination of parasite cell biology, live cell imaging and single molecule biophysics to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying dense granule transport and secretion. By understanding the mechanisms underlying this essential process it is our goal to identify new targets for the development of anti-parasitic drugs.