Meet our ECRs - Michaela Finsterbusch

Can you explain your research? And what results / outcomes do you hope to achieve in the long term?
I am working in Prof Michael Hickey’s group at the Centre for Inflammatory diseases. We study the involvement of different types of immune cells in glomerulonephritis (inflammation of glomeruli). Glomeruli are tufts of capillaries which carry blood within the kidneys for filtration. Immune cells (e.g. neutrophils) which incorrectly get activated during disease start to attack and damage tissue in the kidney, which can lead to leakage of blood into the urine and eventually kidney failure. We are using highly advanced microscopy techniques to visualise immune cells and analyse their behaviour in the live organ. Our major goal is to understand the mechanisms causing kidney inflammation in order to identify ways of blocking these injurious pathways.

When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Inspired by a series of natural history documentaries called “Universum” when I was a kid I always wanted to become a naturalist following wild animals and indigenous people in remote parts of the world to learn about their way of living.

What do you enjoy doing outside work?
I am a very sociable person and like to do things with my friends. I also enjoy being outdoors doing walks and hikes in the countryside or just having a picnic in the park.

Something your work colleagues probably don’t know about you?
I have a twin sister.