My name is Laura Miesen. I am a PhD candidate at the department of Pathology, Radboudumc. I am part of the Nephropathology group which is lead by Dr. ing. Bart Smeets. The main aim of my PhD is to unravel the molecular mechanisms leading to the activation of parietal epithelial cells (PECs) in the kidney. Activated PECs are responsible for scar tissue formation in the glomeruli, the filtration units of our kidneys. Inhibiting PEC activation will possibly lead to the reduction of renal failure (end stage renal disease). The laboratory techniques I use are: Immunostainings (IHC, IF), RNAscope, cell culture, cell assays, mice experiments, microscopy, PCR, RT-PCR, qPCR, western blot, scRNAseq (in collaboration).
