Dr. Mateusz Ambrozkiewicz

How does the human brain build its remarkable diversity of cells, and what goes wrong in disease? My research explores how proteins, cellular workhorses, orchestrate brain development, ensuring each cell type forms and functions properly. By studying how proteins are made, modified, and degraded in specific brain cells, I aim to reveal how disruptions in these processes contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and intellectual disability.

My team investigates the “neuroproteome”, the complete set of proteins in the developing brain, using advanced biochemical, imaging, and genetic tools. We focus on how the ribosome, proteasome, and the ubiquitin system work together to maintain protein balance and guide healthy brain development. In particular, we study how ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like modifiers, such as UFM1, regulate the production, quality control, and turnover of neuronal proteins. Through these studies, we hope to uncover how genetic mutations and environmental stressors disturb protein homeostasis and impair neural development.

Ultimately, our goal is to decode the protein-level logic that underlies brain formation and resilience. We hope to pave the way for earlier diagnosis, targeted interventions, and precise therapies for neurodevelopmental disorders.