Genomics and Computational Biology

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Our research covers a range of topics including cancer genomics, the biology of senescence, the landscape of human DNA regulatory elements, computational modelling of bacteria and AI-based analytical frameworks.

Our team identifies the mechanisms of genome function in both health and disease. To achieve this, we use unbiased high-throughput sequencing and mass spectrometry, combined with cutting-edge data analysis and AI technologies to gain unique insights into genetics and cell signalling. Ultimately, our ambition is to apply this new knowledge to enhance early disease detection and develop personalised medicine solutions.

Our team provides biostatistics and bioinformatics advisory service to staff and students. We provide initial experimental design advice and give informatics support with carrying out a research project.

Abstract image of genomics and Computational Biology

Research projects

Principal researcher: Professor Jim Boyne

The role of regulatory RNAs in human disease and their utility as potential therapeutic targets has seen intensive research in recent years. SFPQ is a multifunctional DNA-and RNA-binding protein involved in a large range of RNA-centric mechanisms, including alternative splicing, transcriptional regulation, and non-coding RNA biogenesis. Work in our group recently demonstrated that SFPQ orchestrates oncogenic gene expression in melanoma (Bi et al, 2021), and SFPQ has also been linked to the progression of several other cancers, including prostate and breast. Utilising a range of molecular biology approaches, including RNA omics and integrative bioinformatics, work in our lab aims to determine how SFPQ impacts on cancer development and progression.

Principal researcher: Dr Chinedu Anthony Anene

Senescence, characterised by cell cycle arrest and resistance to apoptosis, drives many of the age-related diseases facing society such as cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s. Given the different triggers of cellular senescence, we observe a high level of heterogeneity in SCs subtypes and secretome, as such traditional in vivo experiments will not be able to map these complex changes. We are using novel computational approaches applied on large omics datasets and targeted in-vitro validation experiments to define SCs biology and derive robust biomarkers for identifying them in-vivo.

Principal researcher: Dr Chinedu Anthony Anene

Differentiation-specific gene expression programmes are controlled by complex interplay between non-coding regulatory elements (NREs) in the genome. Compared to other NREs, our knowledge of silencers, which are non-coding regulatory elements that repress gene expression, is largely lacking. They play an essential role in regulating lineage-specific gene expression programs in haematopoiesis. Some silencers control the genetic and epigenetic programmes of HSC fate. We are using bioinformatics approaches on epigenomic datasets to systematically characterise silencers that regulate how haematopoietic stem cells functions.