The Functional Genetics Laboratory investigates how genetic variants in noncoding regions of the genome contribute to cancer risk and progression. Until recently, the genetic basis of cancer has only been examined in coding regions, which accounts for less than 2% of the human genome. However, it is now apparent that noncoding regions are littered with functional elements such as transcriptional enhancers and long non-coding RNAs. The laboratory focuses on how inherited variants identified through genome wide association studies (GWAS) and cancer specific mutations identified through whole gene sequencing (WGS) can alter these non-coding elements to promote the development of cancer. The ultimate aim is to use genetics to pinpoint the key genes and pathways implicated in the development of cancer to identify new therapeutic opportunities.
CURRENT RESEARCH
- understanding how common genetic variants associated with cancer risk contribute to cancer development
- understanding how somatic mutations in tumours contribute to cancer development
- high throughput mapping of promoter-enhancer interactions to identify new cancer risk genes
- determining the contribution of long non-coding RNAs to breast cancer risk and progression
Staff
- Dr Maina Bitar, Post-doctoral Scientist
- Dr Sebastien Jacquelin, Post-doctoral Scientist
- Kristine Hillman, Research Assistant
- Susanne Kaufmann, Research Assistant
- Nehal Abdou, Research Assistant
- Isela Sarahi Rivera, PhD student
Internal Collaborators
- Associate Professor Stacey Edwards, Functional Cancer Genomics.
- Professor Georgia Chenevix-Trench, Cancer Genetics.
- Associate Prof Andreas Möller, Tumour Microenvironment
- Associate Prof Michelle Wykes, Molecular Immunology
External Collaborators
- Breast Cancer Association Consortium
- Associate Professor Alison Dunning and Prof Douglas Easton, Cambridge University
- Assoc Prof Joseph (Sefi) Rosenbluh, Monash University
- Dr Melissa Brown, The University of Queensland
- Cancer Council Queensland
- National Breast Cancer Foundation
- National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia
- Tour de Cure – Riding to Cure Cancer