The BPI Team
People
Principal Investigator
Prof Marco Fritzsche
Principal Investigator
Biomedical sciences increasingly recognise the physics of immunity in health and disease. For the most part, this is due to an emerging new perspective of the broad impact of mechanobiology on the immune response. The BPI Lab aims to understand the biological significance of mechanobiology for immunophysiology. For this mission, we develop advanced technology, microscopy, and analysis approaches.
BSc (2003-2006) in Mathematics, Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Saarbrücken, Germany.
BSc (2003-2006) in Physics, Department of Theoretical Physics, University of Saarbrücken, Germany.
MSc (2006-2008), Karsten Kruse, Theoretical Physics, University of Saarbrücken, Germany.
PhD (2008-2012), Guillaume Charras, Experimental Physics and Biology, University College London, UK.
Postdoc (2013-present), Christian Eggeling, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford.
Visiting Researcher (2015-2016), Eric Betzig, Janelia Farm, Howard Hugh Medical Institute, USA.
Principal Investigator (2016-2020), MRC Junior Principal Investigator, MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, and Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology, University of Oxford, UK.
Principal Investigator (2020-Present), Associate Professor, Rosalind Franklin Kennedy Trust Research Fellow, Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology, University of Oxford, and Rosalind Franklin Institute, UK. Scientific Director (2021-Present), Oxford-ZEISS Centre of Excellence between Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine and Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology, University of Oxford, UK.
Full Professor (2023-Present) of Biophysical Immunology, Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology, University of Oxford, UK.
Huw Colin-York is an EPSRC Postdoctoral Fellow in Synthetic Biology, working at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology at the University of Oxford in the lab of Prof Marco Fritzsche. His research focuses on understanding basic T-cell immunology through the development of novel mechanobiological tools. He has worked extensively on advancing the method of Traction Force Microscopy (TFM) by integrating it with super-resolution fluorescence microscopy, pioneering its application to immune cell mechanobiology. More recently, harnessing synthetic biology approaches, he has developed synthetic antigen-presenting cells (APCs) based on soft hydrogel microspheres to probe T-cell force generation and enhance T-cell expansion for immunotherapy.
MPhys (2007-2011), Physics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, UK.
DPhil (2013-2017), Christian Eggeling, Experimental Biophysics and Immunology, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, UK.
Visiting Student (2014-2016), Eric Betzig, Advanced Imaging Center, Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow (2017-2023), Marco Fritzsche, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, UK.
EPSRC Postdoctoral Fellow in Synthetic Biology (2023-Present), Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, UK.
Huw Colin-York
EPSRC Postdoctoral Fellow in Synthetic Biology
I am a physicist developing quantitative imaging technologies to investigate the fundamental mechanisms underlying the human immune response. My research lies at the interface of physics, biology, and medicine, driven by a fascination with how physical concepts and novel experimental approaches can provide new insights into complex biological systems.
I am particularly interested in understanding how rare interactions between immune cells and their targets contribute to effective anti-cancer immunity. During my DPhil, I designed and built a large field of view lightsheet fluorescence microscopy platform capable of detecting and tracking rare cellular events across populations of up to 100,000 cells, resolving their spatial and temporal dynamics with single-cell sensitivity.
As a postdoctoral researcher, I am further advancing and applying this technology to quantitatively investigate immune cell behaviour. By combining large-scale fluorescence imaging with machine learning-based analysis, I aim to uncover the cellular mechanisms underlying anti-cancer immunity and bridge fundamental biophysical research with clinically relevant applications.
BSc (2013 - 2016) in Technical Physics, Technische Universität Wien, Austria.
MSc (2016 - 2019) in Technical Physics, Technische Universität Wien, Austria.
MSc internship (Feb - Jul 2018) Laboratory of Physics of Living Matter, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland.
DPhil (Oct 2019 – Jul 2024), Marco Fritzsche, Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology, University of Oxford, UK.
Postdoc (Aug 2024 – Present), Marco Fritzsche, Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology, University of Oxford, UK.
Veronika Pfannenstill
Postdoctoral Researcher
Immune cells must orchestrate a complex series of morphological changes, along with biochemical and biomechanical signalling events, while constantly being exposed to the mechanical constraints of their environment. I am interested in understanding how the mechanical properties of cellular components, individual cells, and their surrounding environment are linked to cellular function. To explore this, I use various techniques to quantify protein and cell mechanics. During my fellowship in the BPI lab, I am focusing on how the stiffness of target cells influences the T cell response, and how this response is affected by confinement.
BSc (2011 - 2014) Nanoscience, University of Hamburg, Germany.
MSc (2014 - 2017) Nanoscience, University of Hamburg, Germany 2017: Jean-Marie Lehn and Klaus von Klitzing Prize for the best M.Sc. thesis in Nanoscience.
PhD (2017 – 2021) Physics of Biological and Complex Systems, University of Goettingen, Germany, 2022: Jan Peter Toennies physics prize for outstanding PhD theses in Experimental Physics. 2023: Dissertation prize Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (DPG)
Postdoc (2022– 2024), Rosalind Franklin Institute and Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology, University of Oxford, UK.
Postdoc (2024-2026), Walter-Benjamin Scholarship, Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology, University of Oxford, UK.
Postdoc (2026-present), Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology, University of Oxford, UK.
Anna Schepers
Postdoctoral Researcher
The metabolic state of cytotoxic T cells changes significantly across activation, differentiation, and effector states, both reflecting and shaping function. I am interested in understanding more about the metabolic responses of cytotoxic T cells, with a particular focus on how the tumour microenvironment plays a role here. I obtained an MSc in Integrated Immunology before completing a PhD investigating cellular metabolic changes in steatotic liver disease using fluorescence microscopy, with an emphasis on autofluorescence lifetime imaging. I now apply these approaches to investigate how tumour-driven metabolic constraints shape cytotoxic T cell activity.
BSc (2015-2018) in Biology, University of York, United Kingdom.
MSc (2020-2021) in Integrated Immunology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
DPhil (2021-2025) in Molecular and Cellular Medicine, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
BSc (2025-Present) Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
Kaitlyn Purdie
Postdoctoral Researcher
Dr. Narain Karedla leads the Quantitative Immunodynamics Laboratory across the Rosalind Franklin Institute and the Botnar Institute of Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, UK.
The Karedla Group sits at the interface of physical sciences and immunology, developing advanced optical microscopy and spectroscopy methods to probe immune-cell biology. We are interested in the fundamental physical forces that govern biological processes, with a particular emphasis on the emerging role of nanoscale electrostatics in immune function. By building high-resolution biophotonic tools, we aim to uncover the physical principles that shape immune-cell behaviour and to generate quantitative insight in complex biological systems.
Integrated MSc (2007 – 2012), Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India
PhD (2012 – 2016), Biophyics, III. Institute of Physics – Biophysics, University of Göttingen, Germany
Postdoc (2016 – 2018), III. Institute of Physics – Biophysics, University of Göttingen, Germany
Postdoc (2018), HFSP Cross Disciplinary Fellow, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
Postdoc (2019 - 2020), Feodor Lynen Fellow, University of Oxford, UK
Postdoc (2021 – 2024), The Rosalind Franklin Institute, Harwell Campus. Didcot, UK
Staff Scientist (2024-2025) The Rosalind Franklin Institute, Harwell Campus. Didcot, UK
Principal Investigator (2026 – Present) Rosalind Franklin Institute and Botnar Institute of Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, UK
Narain Karedla
ERC Fellow, Principal Investigator in Biophysics and Advanced Optical Microscopy
Ahsan completed a MRes and PhD at the University of Cambridge working with Prof. Ewa Paluch, Prof. Tim Wilkinson, Prof. Roberto Cipolla, and Prof. Joan Lasenby, and BEng at Osaka University working with Prof. Ito Syoji and Prof. Miyasaka Hiroshi. Ahsan specializes in holographic systems, multi-wavelength modulations, metasurfaces, optical neural networks, hyperspectral imaging, computer vision, signal coding, super resolution microscopy, optical traps, cell mechanics, and behaviour programming.
BEng (2013-2017) in Chemistry Biology Combined Major Program, Osaka University, Japan.
MRes (2017-2018) in Integrated Photonic and Electronic Systems, University of Cambridge, UK.
PhD (2018-2022) in Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, UK.
Visiting Researcher (2022-2025) in Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, UK.
Visiting Researcher (2022-2025) in Department of Clinical Neurosciences Cambridge, University of Cambridge, UK.
Postdoc (2025-Present) in Correlated Imaging, Rosalind Franklin Institute, UK.
Postdoc (2025-Present) in Molecular and Precision Biosciences, University of Southampton, UK.
Postdoc (2026-Present) in Biophysical Immunology, Oxford University, UK.
Ahsan Murtaza Memon
Postdoctoral Research Associate
I am currently completing my PhD investigating how the physical properties of the tumour microenvironment influence CD8⁺ T cell phenotype and function, with a particular focus on tumour interstitial fluid osmolality. Through this work, I have developed a strong interest in the interplay between biophysics and immunology. I have integrated flow cytometry and transcriptomics analyses with microscopy techniques, including atomic force microscopy and traction force microscopy. More broadly, I am interested in understanding how immune cells maintain their health and function within tissue environments, and how these processes become altered during ageing and disease.
MBiolSci (2018-2022) in Biochemistry, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
PhD (2022-2026), Marco Fritzsche and Robert Koechl, The Rosalind Franklin Institute and King's College London, United Kingdom
Jess Stone
PhD student
I am a PhD student at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, working in Professor Marco Fritzsche’s lab under the supervision of Professor Marco Fritzsche, Dr Huw Colin-York, and Dr Isabela Pedroza-Pacheco. My research focuses on T-cell mechanobiology, particularly how the biomechanical properties of the tumour microenvironment influence T-cell antigen recognition, differentiation, and function. My work combines the development and application of synthetic biology tools, including biomimetic synthetic antigen-presenting cells, with advanced imaging techniques, traction force microscopy (TFM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), high-dimensional flow cytometry, and computational image analysis algorithms. Through these approaches, I aim to elucidate how mechanical cues shape T-cell responses and explore their potential implications for cancer immunotherapy.
PhD (2025-Present) DPhil in Molecular and Cellular Medicine, The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology
Shuyang Xu
DPhil Student
PhD student working on computational and optical techniques for lymph node biology.
Natural Sciences: Cambridge 2019-2023
MRes Oxford 2023-2024
PhD Oxford 2024-onwards
Edward Wheeler
PhD Student
bio
Maximillian Fidlin
Role
I am expertised in biomedical image processing with years of experience in developing and designing associate algorithms. I am responsible for deploying machine learning techniques in microscopic images and managing image analysis infrastructure at the Oxford-ZCoE. I also assist other team members to develop automated analytical pipelines for the interpretation of microscopy data, including feature detection, segmentation, and motion tracking.
BSc (2010 - 2013) in Physics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
MPhil (2015 - 2017) in Imaging and Interventional Radiology, The Chiniese University of Hong Kong.
PhD (Sept 2019 – Aug 2022) in Imaging and Interventional Radiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Advanced Bioimage Analyst (Nov 2022– Present), Marco Fritzsche, Oxford-ZEISS Centre of Excellence of Biomedical Imaging , University of Oxford, UK.
Jacky Ka Long Ko
Advanced Bioimage Analyst
Having a strong background in experimental physics and optics, I was always interested in biological applications. For that reason, after completing my PhD in ultrafast spectroscopy I moved to the field of super-resolution microscopy. As a part of the Nanoscopy group at IIT I worked on the development of label-free near IR pump-probe nanoscope. Besides, I was also closely involved in other projects related to nonlinear microscopy, such as subtraction microscopy approaches for second-harmonic generation imaging of collagen fibres or two-photon spectrofluorimetric characterization of a new set of red-emitting proteins. I joined the BPI Lab to develop the eTIRF-SIM.
Presently, I am working in the BPI Lab and am an Advanced Microscope Manager in the Oxford-ZEISS Centre of Excellence.
PhD (2010-2013), Alberto Comin, Ultrafast Spectroscopy, Italian Institute of Technology, Genova, Italy.
Postdoc (2013-2016), Alberto Diaspro, Nanoscopy group, Italian Institute of Technology, Genova, Italy. Microscopy Staff Scientist (2016-2021), Marco Fritzsche, Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology, University of Oxford, UK.
Advanced Microscopy Manager (2021-Present) Oxford-ZEISS Centre of Excellence between Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine and Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology, University of Oxford, UK.
Kseniya Korobchevskaya, PhD
Advanced Microscopy Manager
Microscopy is the key to capturing the biological events which are important to researchers and to the community. Microscopists are necessarily moving away from the turn-key workhorses, towards more specialised and individualised instruments, as the limits and rules that governed light microscopy are continually pushed. I find a lot of joy in figuring out these new or little used technologies, then condensing the need-to-knows and how-tos such that they are accessible, and researchers can make the most of them.
MSc (2009-2014) Natural Sciences, University of Bath, UK. DPhil. (2014-2018) ‘Anomalous Diffusion in Artificial Lipid Bilayers’ Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Oxford, UK. Imaging Specialist (2018-2021) Lattice Light Sheet Microscopy, University of Warwick, UK. Advanced Microscopy Manager (2021-Present) Oxford-ZEISS Centre of Excellence between Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine and Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology, University of Oxford, UK.
Helena Coker, PhD
Advanced Microscopy Manager
bio
Cameron McMichael
Role
People
BPI Alumni
Karim Ajmail
Erasmus+ Internship
During my Erasmus+ research internship at the Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology, I took part in the development of a new microsphere traction force microscopy platform. Here we use lattice lightsheet microscopy to record 3D traction forces, that T-cells exert on biomimetic hydrogel microspheres.
BSc (2017-2020) in Biochemsitry, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Germany
BSc (2020-2021) in Physics, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Germany
Erasmus+ Internship, Marco Fritzsche,Kennedy Insitute for Rheumatology, University of Oxford, UK
MSc (2021-2024) at the Max Planck School Matter to Life, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Germany
PhD (2024-present), Prof. Joachim Spatz, Max-Planck-Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany
I am a biochemist by training with a strong interest in the physical function of biological and complex systems.
BSc (2011-2014) in Biochemistry, Andreas Janshoff, Biophysical Chemistry, Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Germany.
MSc (2015-2017) in Biochemistry and Biophysics, Alexander Rohrbach, Bio- and Nano-Photonics, IMTEK, University of Freiburg, Germany.
Erasmus+ Intern (2017), Marco Fritzsche, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, UK.
Dr. Rer. Nat. (2018-2022), Andreas Janshoff, Biophysical Chemistry, Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Germany.
Visiting Doctoral Candidate (01/2019), Marco Fritzsche, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, UK.
Postdoc (2022), Andreas Janshoff, Biophysical Chemistry, Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Germany.
Staff Scientist (2023-Present), Claudia Steinem, Biomolecular Chemistry, Institute of Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Germany.
Mark Skamrahl
Erasmus+ intern and visiting doctoral candidate
I am a translational researcher and doctor with a focus on utilizing cellular therapies against cancer. During my time in the Fritzsche laboratory I had the great pleasure of being embedded with world-class biophysicists and to utilize the fantastic tools developed in the laboratory, to better understand how CAR T-cells signal and are activated.
I am currently head of research at the Department of Clinical Immunology, Odense University Hospital, where we are continuing this work in order to produce in-house developed CAR T-cells for clinical use, and still draw on the many lessons learned during my time at BPI.
BSc (2006-2009) in Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark.
MSc (2009-2013) in Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark.
Dphil (2014-2018) in Medical Science, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
Specialty registrar (2019-2025) in Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical Immunology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
Lundbeck Foundation Early-Career Clinician Scientist (2022-2025) in Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical Immunology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
Consultant (2025-Present) in Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical Immunology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
Associate Professor (2025-Present ) in Clinical Immunology and Cellular Immunotherapy, Faculty of Health, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark.
Head of Research (2025-Present), Department of Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical Immunology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
Mike Barnkob
Postdoctoral researcher
I am a biochemist by training and aim to understand how molecular motion translates to biological function across scales. It is utterly fascinating that the nano-scale interaction of only a few proteins such as transmembrane receptors binding their ligands or transcription factors binding to DNA, can completely reshape the structure and function of a cell and even impact whole tissues and organisms. To study these processes, I employ a variety of imaging, spectroscopy and molecular biology tools as well as in vitro model membrane systems, cell culture models, and animal models. Ultimately, I build tools and aim to answer fundamental questions about the dynamic organization of biological systems.
Since March 2025, I am leading the Fluorescence and Membrane Dynamics (FMD) Lab at the University of Warwick (fmd-lab.org). We are part of the Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology (CMCB) and the Cellular Interfaces Cluster. We are bringing together cell biologists, developmental biologists, and microscopists to understand the role of membrane organisation in the fundamental processes of life. Our main tools are fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy and we are working hard to make every photon count.
BSc (2010-2013) in Biochemistry, University of Hanover
MSc (2013-2015), Joerg Enderlein, Biochemistry, Hanover Medical School PhD (2015-2019), Christian Eggeling, Medical Sciences, University of Oxford
PostDoc (2020-2021), Marco Fritzsche, MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, and Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology, University of Oxford, UK.
PostDoc (2021 - 2025), Scott Fraser (Fraser Lab - Translational Imaging Center), University of Southern California, Los Angeles, United States
Assistant Professor (2025 - Present), FMD Lab, Warwick Medical School University of Warwick, UK
Falk Schneider
Assistant Professor
People
Scientific Collaborators
Department
Janelia Research Campus
Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology
Mechanical Engineering
Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology
Biomedical Engineering
CAMS-Oxford Institute
Institute for Developmental and Regenerative Medicine
School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences
National Laboratory of Biomarcomolecule
Photonics
Biochemistry and Theoretical Physics
Hubrecht Institute/Netherlands Cancer Institute
London Centre for Nanotechnology
Chemistry
Materials
Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology
Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology
Institute for Developmental and Regenerative Medicine
Berlin Institute of Health
Collaborator
Prof Eric Betzig
Prof Michael L Dustin
Prof Emad Moeendarbary
Prof Jagdeep Nanchahal
Prof Eleanor Stride
Prof Tao Dong
Prof Shankar Srinivas
Prof Robert Koechl
Prof Dong Li
Prof Christian Eggeling
Prof Karsten Kruse
Prof Colinda Scheele
Prof Guillaume Charras
Prof Ben Davis
Prof Angus Kirkland
Prof Tonia Vincent
Prof Irina Udalova
Prof Pail Riley
Prof Birgit Savitzgi
Institution
Howard Hugh Medical Institute
University of Oxford
MIT, University College London
University of Oxford
University of Oxford
University of Oxford
University of Oxford
Kings College London
Institute of Biophysics
University of Jena
University of Geneva
University of Utrecht
University College London
Rosalind Franklin Institute
University of Oxford
University of Oxford
University of Oxford
University of Oxford
Charite Berlin
Country
USA
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
China
Germany
Switzerland
Netherlands
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Germany
People
Scientific Collaborators
Prof Eric Betzig, Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hugh Medical Institute, USA
Prof Michael L Dustin, Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
Prof Emad MoeendarbaryMechanical Engineering, MIT, University College London, United Kingdom
Prof Jagdeep Nanchahal,Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
Prof Eleanor Stride, Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
Prof Tao Dong, CAMS-Oxford Institute, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
Prof Shankar Srinivas, Institute for Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
Prof Robert Koechl, School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences, Kings College London, United Kingdom
Prof Dong Li, National Laboratory of Biomarcomolecule, Institute of Biophysics, China
Prof Christian Eggeling, Photonics, University of Jena, Germany
Prof Karsten Kruse, Biochemistry and Theoretical Physics, University of Geneva, Switzerland
Prof Colinda Scheele, Hubrecht Institute/Netherlands Cancer Institute, University of Utrecht, Netherlands
Prof Guillaume Charras, London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, United Kingdom
Prof Ben Davis, Chemistry, Rosalind Franklin Institute, United Kingdom
Prof Angus Kirkland, Materials, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
Biophysical Immunology Lab
Sitemap
Lab Location
Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology
Roosevelt Drive
Oxford OX3 7FY
United Kingdom
Rosalind Franklin Institute
Harwell Campus
Didcot OX11 0FA
United Kingdom
