Tommy Mau

I became fascinated by developmental biology when I was studying biochemistry at the University of Hong Kong. As an undergrad student, I was involved in research projects investigating the expression pattern of specific transcription factors in the developing inner ear. Following this experience, I joined the laboratory of Dr Véronique Azuara at the Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, from which I obtained my MSc in 2016 and PhD in 2020. My work in the Azuara lab focused on the role of lipid storage in embryonic stem cells and early embryos. I discovered a novel role of Lipid Droplets (LDs) for the morphogenesis of pluripotent tissue, through regulating lipid availability and associated cell signalling pathway. I joined the Gould lab at the Crick in 2021 to pursue my interest in lipid metabolism. My research here will focus on mammalian cortical development, in particular gliogenesis, under normal and stressful conditions.