Hannah Grice

• BSc (Hons) Biomedical Genetics
• Investigation of epigenetic regulation of PM20D1 in susceptibility to neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is a cancer that occurs primarily in children under 5. However the causes of this disease are largely unknown. We have recently found evidence that a gene called PM20D1 may be linked to susceptibility of children to developing neuroblastoma. PM20D1 is an unusual gene, because it is inherited in two different states, called epitypes. Our initial analysis suggested that children that inherit the rarer epitype from both their father and mother are more likely to develop neuroblastoma. This project will have two aims. The first will be to confirm the link between neuroblastoma susceptibility and PM20D1. This will be done by analysis the PM20D1 epitypes in blood samples (i.e. healthy, non-cancer cells) to confirm that most neuroblastoma patients have two copies of the rarer PM20D1 epitype. Secondly, we believe that this rarer epitype actually switches the gene off and we will test this the using a technique called qRT-PCR. 

Funding source: Genetics Society

Supervisor: Dr Gordon Strathdee