Dr. Marco Marra
Department of Medical Genetics
Genome Sciences Centre
Design, Evaluation and Implementation Of Novel Genomics Approaches
My lab has been involved in the development and application of efficient, high-throughput genomics strategies, with special emphasis on large-scale genome mapping and DNA sequencing, and bioinformatics. Our current activities include the application of “next generation” sequencing and analysis approaches to characterize cancer genomes, with the aim of comprehensive identification of the genetic changes that drive cancer progression. It is our belief that, with such changes in hand, a new generation of treatment strategies will emerge for the benefit of cancer patients. Progress so far has been brisk, with recent papers in the New England Journal of Medicine (Shah et al, June 2009); Nature (Shah et al, Oct 2009); and Nature Genetics (Morin et al, Feb 2010). Current work focuses on mutational evolution of treatment resistance in colon cancers; mutational drivers of lymphomagenesis; and genomic characterization of oligodendroglioma and neuroblastoma. We are also involved in several software development projects, and are participating as a Genome Characterization Centre (GCC) in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and also participate in the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC).
Typical trainee projects involve a combination of “wet” and “dry” (computational) approaches to explore the incidence and relevance of genomic and epigenomic phenomena to cancer. Of particular interest is molecular evolution of cancer and how this relates to treatment resistant disease.
For current trainee projects, please click here
Read More