Cancer Epigenetics

Epigenetics explores the molecular mechanisms governing gene regulation and gene expression without changes to the underlying DNA sequence.  Epigenetic dysregulation can be found in most stages of cancer progression, including tumorigenesis, progression, and recurrence.  Notably, certain epigenetic drugs hold the potential to reverse some of these changes, offering promising avenues for intervention.

The Cancer Epigenetics program strives to unravel the epigenetic mechanisms contributing to cancer, with the aim of developing effective therapeutics.

Group Leader - Dr Adrienne Sullivan

The Sullivan Lab seeks to uncover how gene enhancer activity is molecularly controlled and its impact on cell identity, behaviour, and potency.  In particular we focus on the selective activation and deactivation of enhancers through epigenetic changes, critical for the differentiation of multipotent progenitor cells during development, and the misregulation of these processes in malignancy.  This research is essential for understanding both developmental processes and disease.

Group Leader - Dr Qi Zhang

Our research revolves around understanding the fundamental mechanisms governing epigenetic regulation, we aim to translate foundational laboratory findings into innovative therapeutic strategies.  Presently, our primary focus lies in exploring the intricate interplay of chromatin-modifying complexes in both gene regulation and cancer pathology.  We employ a multifaceted approach encompassing biochemistry, structural biology, cell biology, genomics, and bioinformatics to illuminate these complexities and pave the way for novel therapeutic interventions.

Group Leader - Professor Jose Polo

The Polo Lab is interested in transcriptional and epigenetic processes that govern cell identity, especially pluripotency, somatic cell reprogramming into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, and their relevance to development and cancer.  They aim to reprogram mature cells into a pluripotent state, to gain insights into the molecular and cellular events involved in cell type conversion.  Using diverse techniques and stem cell models, they investigate epigenetic and genomic changes during cell fate transitions, the influence of cell origin on reprogramming and the role of transcription factors and transcriptional regulation in pluripotency, developmental biology and cancer.

Group Leader - Dr Luke Isbel

The Isbel Lab is fascinated by the interactions between transcription factors and chromatin and means of controlling these interactions to influence DNA expression. In particular, through the use of a variety of genomics and proteomics tools in mammalian stem cells, cancer cell lines and animal models, we aim to identify novel means of altering transcription factor activity to open new avenues of cancer treatment.