Jennifer Combe

• BSc (Hons) Biomedical Genetics
• Identification of conditional lethal oncogenes in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Cancer is caused by mutations in genes, but also by changes in the mechanisms that control genes – known as epigenetic mechanisms. Important cancer causing genes can be identified by studying the epigenetic mechanisms and these can be used to design new treatments. However, this has been difficult as cancers have changes in epigenetic mechanisms at huge numbers of genes, but only a small number are important in cancer development. We have developed a novel method for identifying the important epigenetic changes. This method involves detailed analysis of the different patterns of epigenetic changes in different cancer patients and healthy cells. The student will analyse candidates identified by this approach and confirm that their pattern of epigenetic changes suggest an important role in cancer development.

Project Supervisor: Dr Gordon Strathdee, Northern Institute of Cancer Research

Funding Source: Newcastle University