Diana Mechtcheriakova studied physics and graduated from Moscow Engineering Physics University in Russia, known world-wide as MIFI, with a specialization biophysics. She had her PhD study at the Institute of Immunology in Moscow under the supervision of Professor Rahim Musaevich Khaitov. The work was performed at the front line of HIV research and resulted in scientific discoveries on the fine mapping of immunogenic determinates of HIV proteins, characterization of neutralizing antibodies in sera of patients with AIDS and development of the “Peptoscreen-2” diagnostic test system for HIV-1/2, based on synthetic peptides. Postdoctoral research was done at Sandoz, Vienna, in the laboratory of Dr. Wolff-Winiski and at VIRCC, University of Vienna, leaded by Prof. Binder.
Having a background in theoretical physics, biophysics and immunology and extensive experience as laboratory head at Novartis Research Institutes, Diana Mechtcheriakova’s long-term research goal is to expand the knowledge on cellular checkpoints, which redirect the physiologically balanced system towards pathological situations leading to development and progression of multifactorial diseases such as aberrant immunity, chronic inflammation and cancer. The research concept is based on a holistic approach for deciphering the complexity of multifactorial diseases and elaborating the doctrine “the whole is more than the sum of its parts” (philosopher Aristotle). For more than 10 years, Diana Mechtcheriakova is actively promoting systems biology approaches at the Institute, the Center, and the University level. Her current scientific interests/main research areas are systems biology and systems medicine as part of the global concept of personalized medicine, B-cell biology, and immuno-oncology. Special interests refer to the AID/APOBEC-associated biological events, architectural complexity and functionality of ectopic lymphoid structures, producing memory B cells and plasma cells, and the cellular sphingolipid/lysophosphatidate system in immunity and cancer.
Link to DM’s MSBP Research Group
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