PhD project: Dissecting the Tumour Microenvironment with Epigenetics

Job No: G8
Location: Darlinghurst, Sydney

We are seeking a motivated and hard-working student with to exploit the combined potential of epigenetic and bioinformatic tools to gain new insights into tumour biology. The student will be joining a supportive and established team at the Garvan Institute, in a project led by Dr Ruth Pidsley (DNA Methylation Biomarkers Group Leader) and Prof Susan Clark (Cancer Epigenetics Lab Head).

In solid cancers, tumour formation changes the composition and phenotype of surrounding tissue. This creates the complex tumour microenvironment which includes cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a heterogeneous population of cells that regulate the tumourigenicity, proliferation, migration, invasion and differentiation of tumour epithelial cells. Previous work from our lab has shown that epigenetic changes underpin the pro-tumorigenic function of CAFs in prostate cancer (1, 2).

Our aim now is to combine single-cell and spatial techniques to discover more about the cellular heterogeneity of CAFs and the different roles of CAF subtypes, and extend this to other cell types in the complex tumour microenvironment. Our vision is to develop a new strategy for dissecting tumour biology by developing novel ‘spatial methylomics’ laboratory and bioinformatic techniques.

This challenging and rewarding PhD project at the forefront of cancer epigenetics will be supported by experienced and collaborative teams and resources at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research/The Kinghorn Cancer Center. The student will receive training in epigenetic laboratory techniques and bioinformatics, and develop important transferrable skills including complex data analytics, project management and science communication.

References

  1. Pidsley R*, Lawrence M*, et. al., Enduring epigenetic landmarks define the cancer microenvironment. (2018) Genome Research
  2. Lawrence M*, Pidsley R*, et. al., Alterations in the methylome of the stromal tumour microenvironment signal the presence and severity of prostate cancer (2020) Clinical Epigenetic

 

See Profile: Dr Ruth Pidsley | Garvan Institute of Medical Research

See Profile: Prof Susan Clark | Garvan Institute of Medical Research

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