Dr Katja Simon tells us about her research on autophagy in red blood cells. Autophagy is the cellular process in which cells degrade their toxic waste and damaged organelles. In order to fit through small capillaries, red blood cells need to expel their nucleus and degrade their organelles. Dr Katja Simon's research focuses on how the lack of autophagy triggers DNA mutations leading to the possible development of leukemic cells. This might help us make better use of current therapies and develop new ones.