Postdoctoral Researcher
VIB, Antwerp, Belgium
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanna-spiteri-425638135/?originalSubdomain=au
Alanna Spiteri is a postdoctoral researcher at VIB–CMN in Antwerp, Belgium, where she studies immune dysfunction in brain border compartments in Parkinson’s disease under the supervision of Dr De Schepper. She relocated from Australia, where she completed her PhD investigating the differential roles of microglia and monocytes in immune-mediated pathology during viral encephalitis.
Alanna’s research expertise includes flow and spectral cytometry, single-cell RNA sequencing, high-dimensional data analysis, and molecular assays. Her broader research interests focus on neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, and the application of multi-omics approaches to identify disease mechanisms.
Scientific Interest and Avenues for Collaboration
Alanna’s scientific interests include spectral cytometry, neuroimmunology, microglia and monocyte biology, neurodegeneration, and brain border immunity.
Alanna was inspired to apply to the Leadership Development Program based on the positive experiences shared by colleagues who previously participated in the program. She sees the LDP as an opportunity to further develop her leadership skills, share her enthusiasm for cytometry, and contribute meaningfully to the cytometry community. She is particularly interested in building connections with peers and mentors and developing skills that will support future contributions to cytometry initiatives in education and data analysis.
Alanna began working with cytometry during her Honours, PhD, and first postdoctoral position under the supervision of Honorary Professor Nicholas King, former Director of Sydney Cytometry. His passion for cytometry, commitment to rigorous science, and focus on understanding the truth strongly influenced her interest. Cytometry has since been a core component of nearly every experiment she has undertaken, further strengthened by working alongside an outstanding group of cytometrists in Australia, including Kate Pilkington, Dr Paula Niewold, and Dr Thomas Ashhurst.