Alexander Launa joins Poul Henning Jensen’s lab as Research Assistant

From 1 July, Alexander Launa will join Poul Henning Jensen’s lab as a Research Assistant – a research environment he already knows well after spending the past year as a master’s student in the group.

During his master’s studies, Alexander has been using SH-SY5Y cells with α-synuclein overexpression to investigate how modulation of ER Ca²⁺ channels affects α-synuclein aggregate accumulation in synucleinopathies.

In his new position as a Research Assistant, Alexander will focus on investigating the cellular pathways involved in Ca²⁺ dyshomeostasis and how SERCA inhibition and RyR activation can normalise Ca²⁺ dynamics and reduce α-synuclein accumulation.

“I am especially excited to study lysosome-mediated clearance pathways and how they are affected by alterations in Ca²⁺ dynamics,” says Alexander.

We congratulate Alexander on his new position and look forward to following his continued work in Poul Henning Jensen’s lab.