Hello, my name is Nikita Toločkovs. I am originally from Latvia and completed both my bachelor's and master's degrees in the Netherlands at HAN University of Applied Sciences and Radboud University, respectively.

During my master’s internships, I explored the role of adipose tissue in bird thermogenesis at Lund University and investigated the impact of endocrine-disrupting compounds on the hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis in zebrafish. These experiences deepened my interest in physiology and developmental biology, while also strengthening my skills in molecular biology, microscopy, and working with model organisms.

Outside of academia, I enjoy competitive cycling, watching films, going to museums and spending quality time with colleagues and friends.

High-content microscopy and AI-based tools for phenotypic characterization and drug discovery in zebrafish models of renal ciliopathies.

The zebrafish embryo turned to be a key model to characterize ciliopathy genes as well as the impact of the variants identified in patients. DC8 will set up and use methods to quantify ciliopathy-associated phenotypes in mutant embryos using high-content (HC) fluorescence microscopy and ML. P5-Imagine  focuses on renal ciliopathy genes and on their role in kidney development and cysts formation using zebrafish embryo models and high content fluorescence imaging in transgenic mutant lines. Automatic imaging and quantification of pronephric cysts and ciliary defects in zebrafish embryos will improve phenotypic characterization of ciliopathy mutants, a necessary step to enable testing of candidate therapeutic molecules in robust preclinical models in parallel to works in kidney tubular cell models (ciliogenesis, cilia composition, 3D spheroids).