Oleksandra Tiapko

Dr. Oleksandra Tiapko earned her Master’s degree in Human and Animal Physiology from Taras Shevchenko National University of Ukraine in 2013, where she developed a strong foundation in cellular physiology and ion channel regulation.

In 2014, she began her doctoral research under the supervision of Prof. Klaus Groschner, focusing on the role of the lipid environment in modulating transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) calcium channels. During her PhD (2014–2018), she employed a multidisciplinary approach combining electrophysiology, molecular biology, and photopharmacology to investigate how lipid-protein interactions regulate TRPC channel activity. This work contributed to a deeper understanding of lipid-mediated ion channel modulation, particularly in the context of calcium homeostasis and signaling.

Following the completion of her PhD, Dr. Tiapko continued her research in the field of TRPC-lipid interactions, with a particular emphasis on their role in neuronal metabolism. Her postdoctoral studies focused on elucidating the physiological consequences of TRPC channel activity in cellular homeostasis and metabolic regulation, employing cutting-edge biochemical, electrophysiological and imaging techniques.

Her contributions to the field have been recognized through independent research funding from the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), BioTechMed Graz, and MEFOgraz, which enabled her to establish her own research group. Her team is dedicated to investigating the role of TRPC channels in cellular physiology, with a long-term goal of identifying novel therapeutic targets for neurological and metabolic disorders.