My long time interest is regulation of the cell cycle and more recently, cellular growth control. The aim is to understand how a normal cell homeostasis differs from a tumorigenic one. I have carried out high throughput siRNA screens of human and Drosophila genes to map cell cycle regulators. Currently I am working with an oncogenic Mediator-12 model to understand how the same mutation can lead to benign uterine leiomyomas (UL) or malignant uterine leiomyosarcomas (ULMS). Our exome sequencing collaboration with Prof L Aaltonen’s group has shown that Mediator-12, which is part of the transcriptional regulator Mediator complex, is mutated in high percentage of ULs.
Part of my job is to oversee that our next generation sequencers are working well. I’m also involved in the everyday tasks of running the lab at the University of Cambridge site.