Dr Etienne-Manneville was first interested in understanding the peculiar connection between the brain and immune system. This led her to study how cells move, as this is essential to understanding immune cells and brain diseases.

She is a mother of four fantastic kids who share her interests in nature, outdoor sports, and travel. She often ponders over her research while enjoying a perfect cup of English tea and some dark chocolate.

Intermediate filaments are an important part of our cells that provide structure and strength. The proteins within intermediate filaments have been shown to change at different stages of cancer progression. Dr Etienne-Manneville had the bright idea that intermediate filaments might be helping tumour cells to spread by making them more invasive.

The researchers now plan to develop a new set of tools to investigate cancer cells in the lab. Dr Etienne-Manneville and her team will study 2D and 3D cells to explore the role of intermediate filaments on the functions of cells. State-of-the-art imaging techniques will also help to reveal how intermediate filaments in zebrafish cells are involved in glioblastomas spreading.

Dr Etienne-Manneville hopes to pinpoint anything unique about the intermediate filaments of the most aggressive cancer cells. This discovery could then be used to better diagnose glioblastoma or to identify potential new targets for treating this devastating disease.