Patrick Meraldi

Patrick Meraldi is a Full Professor and Director of the Department of Genetics and Evolution at the University of Geneva. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms governing accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis, with particular emphasis on the coordination between mitotic spindle components, kinetochores, and centrosomes. He investigates how defects in these processes contribute to genetic instability in cancer and developmental disorders like microcephaly. His lab has pioneered studies on centrosome age effects, microtubule dynamics, and the role of proteins such as WDR62 and HURP in spindle regulation.

Key research themes include: (1) Centrosome-driven regulation of spindle asymmetry and microtubule dynamics; (2) Mechanisms linking replication stress to chromosome mis-segregation; (3) Development of combinatorial cancer therapies targeting mitotic defects. Collaborations with groups like Patrycja Nowak-Sliwinska (University of Geneva) and Andrew McAinsh (Warwick University) have advanced understanding of spindle architecture and anti-cancer drug synergies.

Lab members include PhD student Daria Ivanova and postdoctoral researchers such as Mireia Andreu Carbo and Batuhan Kalkan. The lab is located at CMU office C05.1535.a with administrative support via Tamara.Bollmann@unige.ch.