Genome Integrity in Cancer and Neurologic Syndromes

A robust and efficient genome integrity maintenance is essential for passing down of traits from one generation to the next, as well as for preserving tissue and cell homeostasis. Alterations of energy and metabolic flows have profound consequences on genome integrity.

Flawed maintenance of genome integrity and stability underlie a number of developmental disorders and human diseases, including cancer and neuropsychiatric disorders. Despite significant progress in understanding causes and consequences of genome deterioration, many key mechanisms regulating homeostatic balance of chromatin and predisposing its regions to become aberrantly restrictive or permissive, yet remain to be fully explored.

Our goal is to establish a comprehensive measure of genomic integrity in order to elucidate complex interrelationships between genomic architecture, genome maintenance mechanisms and phenotypic traits. Last but not least, we will work towards development of clinical guidelines and industry-grade standards for application of genome integrity metrics in diagnostics, prognostics and treatment selection.

Immuno-Oncology

pRb-E2F pathway is a fundamental regulator of cell cycle progression, RNA processing and is de-regulated in cancer. Altered RNA splicing generates immunologically meaningful neoantigens to trigger an effective anti-tumor immune response. Comparative bioinformatic analysis of tumor biomaterial and healthy tissue allows us to create a collection of neoepitopes and select those that may ensure maximum anti-tumour immune response.

We aim to develop analytical and computational approaches to search for neoantigens through intergration of high-throughput molecular data and clinical cohorts. Identification of a wider array of tumor neoepitopes will contribute to a more complete understanding of the tumor immune landscape and to the development of personalized cancer vaccines.