The Laboratory of Chromatin and Gene Expression

Aims and potential for translation of our research

Research in the Laboratory focuses on understanding genome function
and control mechanisms with the overall aim of a greater understanding
of genome regulation underpinning human health and disease.
We are studying epigenetic mechanisms involved in establishing and maintaining gene expression programmes during DNA replication,
placental development and establishment of the immune system. We are using novel techniques to study nuclear organization of the genome to discover its role in the susceptibility and generation of cancers as well as coordination of physiological functions and gene expression programmes.
We also have long-standing interests in understanding the links between genetic mutations and hereditary disease conditions and in increasing knowledge and understanding to design and improve gene therapy regimes.

Current research translation activities

Commercial collaborations
CellCentric Ltd (Patrick Varga-Weisz)

Clinical and pre-clinical collaborations
Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge:
Nuclear  organization and cancer (Cameron Osborne)
 
Dept of Haematological Medicine, Guy's Kings' & St Thomas' School of Medicine, King's College London:
Genomic defects in thalassemia (Peter Fraser & Cameron Osborne)
 
Dept of Human & Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center:
Hemoglobinopathies and thalassaemia (Peter Fraser & Cameron Osborne)
 
Dept of Immunobiology, King's College London School of Medicine:
Chromatin remodelling mechanisms underlying human antibody formation (Anne Corcoran)
 
Dept of Pediatrics, Agia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens University:
Thalassemia and hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (Peter Fraser & Cameron Osborne)
 
Dept of Pharmacology, University of Wisconsin Medical School:
Notch signalling and angiogenesis (Peter Fraser & Cameron Osborne)
 
INSERM Unit 429, Paris:
Gene therapy and cancer (Peter Fraser & Cameron Osborne)
 
Medical Charity Funding
Leukaemia Research:
Fellowship - Mechanisms of chromosomal translocation formation (Cameron Osborne)
 
• Details of previous translational activity can be found here