![Dr Rita Petracca](http://www.imperial.ac.uk/ImageCropToolT4/imageTool/uploaded-images/newseventsimage_1680101600190_mainnews2012_x1.jpg)
![](http://www.imperial.ac.uk/assets/news/img/main_image_shd.png)
Congratulations to Tate group alumnus Dr Rita Petracca for her new Assistant Professorship at Utrecht University.
Rita will join the division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry. Her new research focusses on a post translational protein modification, called crotonylation, using chemical probes. This modification is known to be involved in the molecular mechanisms of cancer and inflammation. Crotonylation is also thought to play a role in the generation and progression of both cardiac and neurodegenerative diseases.
Rita's position is funded by the Sectorplan initiative from the Dutch government. Congratulations Rita, we look forward to following you new research as it develops!
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Reporter
![Edward Bartlett](http://www.imperial.ac.uk/assets/news/img/avatar.png)
Edward Bartlett
Department of Chemistry