Mitochondrial DNA: The Cinderella of cancer genomics

Host: Prof Nicola Ternette

Venue: MSI Small Lecture Theatre, SLS

Bio 

I am a Group Leader and Professor of Mitochondrial Biology at the CRUK Scotland Institute, University of Glasgow. I trained in mitochondrial genetics, genome engineering and metabolism in the labs of Dr Michal Minczuk (MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, Cambridge) and Dr Christian Frezza (MRC Cancer Unit, Cambridge). I moved to Scotland and established my lab in the Summer of 2019 with generous support from CRUK, and subsequent awards from ERC, NIH/NCI and EMBO. 
 
Our lab is interested in understanding the role of mitochondrial genetics in cancer. Roughly half of all cancers bear somatic mutations of the mitochondrial genome, but these remain understudied and their contribution to cancer biology is poorly understood. Using a combination of computational and experimental approaches we have begun to shed light on the importance of these variants in cancer initiation, progression and therapeutics. 

This Seminar is fully funded by external sources