Our team spearhead the healthy samples collection for the European consortium Blueprint by making use of the NIHR Cambridge Bioresource volunteers. The aim of this consortium is to generate reference epigenomes for all the cell types present in the blood as part of the International Human Epigenome Consortium. Additionally, we apply next generation sequencing methods to further our understanding of megakaryocytes and platelet biology.
Comparative Transcription Network Biology
Megakaryocyte and neuronal cells make shared usage of several transcription factors and we aim to dissect the mechanisms that lead to different developmental outcomes.
Key people:
GWAS functional follow-up
Recent genome wide association studies of blood indices has led to the discovery of several genes involved in megakaryopoiesis and erythropoiesis. We are using cellular biology and next generation sequencing based techniques to elucidate the function of these genes.
Key people:
Nuclear Architecture and common variants
In collaboration with other groups we are using Hi-C and 4C techniques to map regulatory regions and their target genes in a variety of haematopoietic cell types.
Key people: Dr Mattia Frontini, Dr Kate Downes, Dr Myrto Kostadima, Dr Sara Garcia, Professor Willem Ouwehand.
Collaborators: