Who are ...
Dr. Alessandro Annibaldi
“I find fascinating what determines whether a cell survives or dies. I want to make an impact in the understanding of how the deregulation of cell death leads to inflammation-related pathologies, including cancer.”
About
Dr. Alessandro Annibaldi is a molecular biologist and research group leader at the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, where he heads the Laboratory of Cell Death, Inflammation and Immunity. His research focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms governing different forms of programmed cell death - such as apoptosis and necroptosis - and their interplay with inflammation and cancer biology.
Academic and Clinical Background
Annibaldi obtained his degree in molecular biology from the University of Rome “La Sapienza” and completed his PhD in life sciences at the University of Lausanne in 2012. He subsequently pursued postdoctoral research at the Institute of Cancer Research in London, followed by a position as Early Career Researcher at Barts Cancer Institute, before establishing his independent research group at CMMC in 2019.
Research Focus
His work aims to understand how dysregulation of cell death pathways contributes to pathological conditions, including chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer, with the long-term goal of identifying novel therapeutic targets. Annibaldi’s contributions to the field are reflected in a substantial body of publications on signaling pathways such as TNF-induced cell death and ubiquitin-mediated regulation, and his research has been supported by competitive international fellowships and grants.
Overall, Dr. Annibaldi’s work bridges fundamental cell biology and translational medicine, advancing our understanding of how cell death and inflammation shape disease processes and therapeutic responses.
M.Sc. Kristie Bariboloka
“What fascinates me is how complex systems, whether biological or institutional, shape outcomes, and how understanding and communicating these processes can ultimately improve decision-making, research and impact.”
About
M.Sc. Kristie Bariboloka is a doctoral researcher at the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, where she is a member of the Laboratory of Cell Death, Inflammation and Immunity led by Dr. Alessandro Annibaldi. As part of this interdisciplinary biomedical research environment - designed to integrate basic molecular science with clinical applications - her work contributes to advancing the understanding of fundamental cellular processes relevant to human health and disease.
Research Focus
Within the Annibaldi laboratory, Bariboloka is engaged in research on molecular mechanisms underlying cell death pathways and their connections to inflammation and cancer biology, an area central to the group’s focus on how dysregulated signaling contributes to pathological conditions. Although specific project details are not publicly detailed, her role as a PhD student indicates active involvement in experimental and translational approaches aimed at uncovering regulatory networks that govern cellular homeostasis.
Scientific Community
In addition to her laboratory work, Bariboloka contributes to the broader scientific community through science communication and collaborative initiatives. Notably, she has participated in organizing and communicating research activities within international networks, including involvement in the FEBS-IUBMB-ENABLE conference and related outreach efforts, highlighting engagement with interdisciplinary exchange and early-career researcher development.
Overall, M.Sc. Bariboloka represents an early-career scientist contributing to contemporary molecular medicine research, combining laboratory-based investigation with active participation in scientific communication and collaborative research environments.