We are a team of cancer biologists, geneticists and computational biologists interested in understanding how cancers develop and the ways of controlling their growth. We work on a range of malignancies but are particularly interested in melanoma and other skin cancers.
The Cellular Generation and Phenotyping (CGaP) core facility provides central cell biology support to the Sanger Institute. CGaP takes a unique approach at the institute by partnering with faculty groups in order to deliver the scale-up of existing protocols to facilitate 'Science at Scale'. We function as a contract research group for the institute, running multiple, distinct cell biology based projects. The facility has expertise in cell derivation from primary tissue, iPSC and organoid derivation, cellular differentiation, CRISPR library screening, functional bioassays, phenotypic assays and end point analysis (e.g. Immunocytochemistry).
The Translational Cancer Genomics team investigate how genetic alterations in cancer contribute to disease and impact on response to therapy.
We develop novel genome editing techniques, cellular differentiation and cellular phenotyping systems, especially with respect to high-throughput investigation of gene and non-coding regulatory element function.
The Hurles group studies the genetic causes and mechanisms of rare genetic disorders and how DNA mutates as it is pass on from one generation to the next.
We measure, model, and modulate cell state across healthy and disease-relevant human genetic diversity. We use genome engineering and synthetic biology to create cell lines that can be employed for CRISPR/Cas9-based genetic screening and high throughput cell biology assays. We develop probabilistic models as well as software tools to accurately analyse the readouts.
Stem Cell Informatics (SCI) develops custom laboratory information systems (LIMS) and computational research tools (WGE) for high-throughput laboratory analysis of human stem cells.
The bacterial genomics and evolution team focuses primarily on using whole-genome sequencing approaches to study the patterns and drivers for historical and ongoing pathogen genome evolution. This is then combined with screens in whole cells or model organisms to understand the phenotypic consequences of those changes.
The Haematological Cancer Genetics team, led by George Vassiliou, studies the genes and genetic pathways involved in the development of blood cancers, with a particular emphasis on Acute Myeloid Leukaemia and related malignancies. The ultimate goal of the team is to develop methods for early detection of those at risk of blood cancers and new treatments that can improve the survival and quality of life of blood cancer sufferers.
We aim to learn why being obese causes metabolic and cardiovascular problems and to provide the rational for mechanistically driven therapeutic approaches to prevent these complications which are the meain cause of morbidity among obese patients.
