Understanding altered chromatin biology in childhood cancers
It is clear that altering the epigenetic regulation of chromatin is central to disease development in many cancers. But this is particularly true in childhood cancers. Our research investigates how these altered epigenetic processes underlies tumour development. We use epigenomic, genomic and biochemical techniques to characterise the chromatin regulatory landscape in childhood brain tumours and sarcomas. This allows us to discover how these processes change in cancer cells, so we can understand how they contribute to tumour development.
Developing new approaches to treat childhood cancers
Through understanding cancer specific epigenetic regulation we are identifying new ways to treat patients. Exploiting fundamental insights into cancer epigenetics allows us to develop treatments with a clear basis in underlying disease biology. To identify therapeutic vulnerabilities we use CRISPR/Cas9-based functional genomics tools, as well as chemical screening platforms to reveal cancer specific drug targets. Combining these approaches with novel approaches in chemical biology and drug design we are developing new small-molecules which will provide a new generation of mechanistically anchored cancer therapeutics.