Research Associate

Early Life Aetiology and Mechanisms of Diabetes and Related Metabolic Disorders

Current work and interests

Ana is a Research Associate at the MRC Epidemiology Unit, working within the group led by Professor John Perry and Professor Ken Ong. Her research focuses on the genetics of menopause and ovarian ageing, aiming to uncover the biological mechanisms that influence reproductive health across the lifespan. Ana’s broader interests include advancing health equity, preventive medicine, and the potential of drug repurposing to address complex diseases.

Background and experience

Ana holds a BSc in Engineering Science (2017) and an MSc in Applied Mathematics (2020), both from the Technical University of Munich. She completed her PhD at the Institute of Translational Genomics, Helmholtz Munich, in 2024 under the supervision of Professor Eleftheria Zeggini. Her doctoral research investigated the shared genetic aetiology underlying complex traits, with a particular emphasis on the genetic factors contributing to multiple type 2 diabetes comorbidities. She has experience working with genetics and genomics data.

Before joining the MRC Epidemiology Unit in July 2025, Ana undertook a one-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute of Translational Genomics, further developing her expertise in human statistical genetics and translational research. She is an active member of the Type 2 Diabetes Global Genomics Initiative (T2DGGI) and the Genetics of Osteoarthritis (GO) consortia.

Publications

• Full publication list available on Google Scholar.