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• genetics, genomics and molecular biology
• cancer/oncology
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Liquid Biopsies

• Medicine
• Surgery
• Pathology

• Oncology

My group is translational cancer lab, whereby we aim to identify novel treatment targets and novel ways of diagnosing cancers better. For example, we have just identified a novel (TGFb-SRC-SLUG) signalling axis responsible for driving the aggressive biology associated with Triple Negative Breast Cancers (submitted to Cell Communication & Signalling). Within QUB and the Belfast Trust, we are closely aligned with several pathology teams involved in the diagnosis of Ovarian, Breast and Pancreatic Cancers, and we have an excellent working relationship with the Northern Ireland Biobank. We are also part of a hub of excellence established by the Health Education Authority Ireland, as part of the North-South Research Programme, aimed at the development of a Cancer Liquid Biopsies (CLuB) consortium. Through this my team work on the development of novel diagnostic blood tests for a range of cancer types, in collaboration with research teams in Trinity College Dublin and University of Galway. This is an exciting new 'holistic' collaborative programme, whereby researchers from TCD can analyse blood samples for the presence of Circulating Tumour Cells, Extracellular Vesicles and Circulating Tumour DNA mutations, and the same blood samples can be analysed in QUB for the presence of novel methylated DNA markers.

Tissue/surgical biopsies are the current procedures for diagnosing solid tumours and they provide information used to decide on the best treatment plan. However, many limitations exist with tissue biopsies, including: inaccessibility of tissue, complex invasive procedures; limited options for repeat sampling; highly specialised infrastructure and associated personnel; extended timelines; and high costs. However, substantial information originating from tumours can enter body fluids, such as the bloodstream. This provides the potential for ‘Liquid Biopsies’, to serve as non-invasive alternatives to surgical biopsies. Liquid Biopsies can include circulating tumour cells, circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), ctRNA; and extracellular vesicles containing cancer cell contents. Consequently, Liquid Biopsies are now seen as an exciting new area of cancer research, with multiple groups worldwide exploring their potential to improve our ability to detect cancers better and at earlier stages.

This studentship will build upon work developed in the Mullan group, where researchers have identified multiple DNA methylation (DNAme) markers in blood samples taken from Ovarian, Breast, Pancreatic, and more latterly Lung Cancer patients (including early-stage tumours). Such DNAme markers could serve as the basis of Liquid Biopsy tests for the improved diagnoses of these current 'difficult to diagnose’ cancer types. We aim to validate DNAme markers in these cancer types, evaluate their improving the potential for better diagnoses and early detection, and to develop PCR-based blood tests to measure DNAme markers found in ctDNA. We will generate our own bespoke methylation datasets, as well as using publicly available datasets, to prioritise the very best performing DNAme markers. A well-established bioinformatics analysis pipeline will maximise our chances of successfully identifying such markers, allowing us to combine these markers into improved diagnostic tests, and potentially improving survival rates in these poor outcome cancers.