Associate Professor Reto Guler

Dr. Reto Guler was recently honoured with a promotion to Associate Professor within the Division of Immunology, congratulations to Dr. Guler who lectures both Honours and PhD courses. We interviewed Dr. Guler to provide a feature on our new Associate Professor. 

What is your name and position?
Reto Guler, Associate Professor

What is the name of your research group?
TB research group

Summarise your research:
My current research focuses on pathogen and host-directed drug therapy for tuberculosis. This includes the identification of host non-coding RNAs as host-directed drug therapy for TB, the role of epigenetics in host immunity to TB and clinical research on statins to reduce chronic pulmonary inflammation during TB relapse. I am a member of the international FANTOM consortium on genome-wide transcriptome analysis (Nature, 2014;507; Science, 2015;347). My team investigates minor groove binders as novel anti-mycobacterial agents and non-ionic surfactant vesicles as a drug delivery system for tuberculosis. In collaboration, we investigate remodelling of mycobacterial peptidoglycan during cell division and in tuberculosis disease.

What awards have you received?
Swiss TB award

Why do you work in immunology?
The study of the immune system will ultimately lead to the development of novel vaccines and therapeutics to treat major infectious diseases.

What would you would be if you weren’t an immunologist?
Teacher

What is the best advice or recommendations for young immunologists?
Persistence, hard work, be passionate about science and never give up

Find out more about Dr. Guler's research - TB Research Group

Interview by  Bonamy Holtak