Christos has been awarded a 3 year BBSRC New Investigator grant award (Sole-PI) to elucidate the gating mechanism of mechanosensitive ion channels. The Pliotas group will combine CryoEM and PELDOR/DEER spectroscopy to structurally characterise novel ion channel structural states. The group will also employ patch clamp electrophysiology to functionally characterise these systems and link structure to function.