Our lab uses cellular and animal models to study the physiological roles of autophagy and its implications during disease. We are interested in the relationships between autophagy and basic processes such as proliferation, differentiation and cell death, and the role of autophagy in pathologies such as cancer and neurodegenerative conditions. We also seek to identify new therapies that target autophagy. We have several ongoing projects with pharmaceutical companies in which we are screening for new autophagy-modulating drugs with a view to discovering new treatments for human diseases.