Epidemiology and Molecular markers in Gliomas
Dr. Catherine Keohane
Malignant gliomas are the most malignant neoplasm of humans classically associated with a very prognosis. They are increasing in incidence, possibly due to an ageing population and increased survival from other diseases. Glioma behaviour and response to both radiation and chemotherapy is linked to a number of molecular markers, some of which can be reliably tested in formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue, used routinely in brain tumour diagnosis. Matched with clinical data from our CNS tumour database, this makes them very useful to assess both in archival and recent biopsies of brain tumours.
Maternal-Fetal Interactions: Evolution, Mechanisms & Disease
Dr. Thomas F Moore
One of our major interests is in understanding aspects of the evolutionary genetics and physiological mechanisms underlying normal and pathological pregnancy in the mouse and human. Currently, we are investigating the function of the Pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (PSG) multigene family (http://www.med.uni-muenchen.de/cea/) using a variety of approaches, including bioinformatics and biochemical approaches, and mouse genome manipulation by transgenesis and gene targeting. We are developing novel transgenic techniques in mice to manipulate placental function in vivo using inducible gene promoters expressed in various trophoblast cell lineages. In collaboration with Prof. T.V. McCarthy, are initiating genetic investigations of human reproductive disorders, which will identify candidate genes for functional analysis in mouse genetic models. We have an ongoing interest in genomic imprinting and in imprinted gene evolution and function (http://www.mgu.har.mrc.ac.uk/imprinting/imprinting.html) , particularly in relation to placental growth in normal pregnancy, and in reproductive disorders such as IUGR and preeclampsia.
