[24][25] He has also contributed towards the development of novel genetic tools for biomedical research, including an RNA interference (RNAi) method that allows efficient knockdown of neuronal genes.

[28] Among the notable discoveries of his team are the sophisticated molecular mechanisms, by which diverse physiological signals are integrated to modulate cellular mitochondrial content,[29] protein synthesis,[30][31] and energy homeostasis during ageing.

[32] These studies revealed intricate signaling pathways that coordinate mitophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis, to determine the number of mitochondria in cells, under stress and during ageing.

[33][34][35] Work from his lab implicated autophagy,[36] lysosomal function,[37][38] endocytosis,[39] intracellular calcium homeostasis[40] and specific proteolytic enzymes[41] as major contributors to necrosis and neurodegeneration.

[42] He has isolated and characterized specific ion channels, involved in proprioception and coordinated locomotion,[43] in dopaminergic signalling and associative learning.

[45][46] Work in his laboratory also led to the identification of specific nuclear autophagy mediators and the characterization of their role in ageing and germline immortality.