معرفی
Dr. Milena Petkova is a Postdoctoral Researcher at ETH Zurich's Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences within the Pharmaceutical Immunology group led by Prof. Cornelia Halin. Her research centers on immune trafficking through lymphatic vessels during cancer progression and inflammatory conditions, focusing on molecular mechanisms of lymphatic malformations and therapeutic interventions.
Her academic background includes:
- BSc in Molecular Biology from Sofia University, Bulgaria (2011-2014)
- MSc in Medical Research from Uppsala University, Sweden (2014-2016)
- PhD in Vascular Biology from Uppsala University, Sweden (2018-2024)
Dr. Petkova's work bridges immunology and vascular biology, with specialized expertise in lymphatic endothelial cell subtypes, immune cell trafficking dynamics, and molecular pathways driving lymphatic malformations. She employs advanced techniques including mouse models, molecular imaging, and cellular assays to investigate VEGF-C signaling, PIK3CA mutations, and novel therapeutic targets in cancer-associated lymphatic dysfunction. Her research has significant implications for understanding metastasis and developing anti-lymphangiogenic therapies.
Analysis of her 8 publications (2016-2024) reveals an evolution from nanoparticle drug delivery systems toward cutting-edge lymphatic biology research. Post-2018 work demonstrates increasing specialization in lymphatic malformations, with key contributions identifying immune-interacting endothelial subtypes and VEGF-C blockade as therapeutic strategy. Her publications in high-impact journals like Nature Cell Biology and Journal of Clinical Investigation highlight translational relevance in oncology and inflammation.
Dr. Petkova operates within Prof. Halin's research ecosystem at ETH Zurich's HCI campus, collaborating with international teams including Prof. Taija Mäkinen's group at Uppsala University. Her current work explores lymphatic-immune crosstalk mechanisms using state-of-the-art vascular biology approaches, with potential applications in cancer immunotherapy and inflammatory disease treatment.
