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Research

The Unit's research is concentrated in three main areas:

1. Regulation of gene expression by the Brn-3a transcription factor (and its close relative Brn-3b), particularly in the developing nervous system and in specific cancers.

  • Role of Brn-3a in regulating differentiation and apoptosis in the nervous system and in neuroblastoma.
  • Interaction of Brn-3a with other transcription factors such as p53.
  • Role of Brn-3a in regulating HPV gene expression in cervical cancer.
  • Role of Brn-3b in breast cancer.

2. Development of gene therapy procedures using viral vectors and their use to deliver protective proteins and/or to analyse protein function in vivo.

  • Analysing gene expression from viral vectors using NMR imaging.
  • Protective effects of heat shock proteins analysed using viral vectors and transgenic approaches.
  • Use of viral vectors and gene chip technology to analyse genes involved in Parkinson's disease, e.g. parkin, alpha-synuclein.

3. Analysis of the events which occur during cardiac ischaemia/reoxygenation and the manner in which they are modulated by protective pathways.

  • Analysis of the mechanisms mediating the protective and hypertrophic effects of urocortin and cardiotrophin-1 in the heart.
  • Role of specific caspases in the damaging effects of ischaemia/reoxygenation in the heart.
  • Role of the STAT-1 transcription factor in producing damage during cardiac ishaemia/reoxygenation.

Funding

The Unit's research at the ICH is generously supported by

Facilities

To expedite the move of The Unit to the ICH, new laboratory facilities (including tissue culture and primary cell culture facilities) were generously built and equipped by the

The Unit benefits greatly from this and from access to the other high quality facilities at ICH.

Page last modified on 17 mar 11 07:44