Student Projects

We are looking for motivated master students interested in cancer genomics studies and functional annotation of genetic lesions frequently altered in cancer.

Project 1. Define the functional role of frequently altered genes in lymphoma.

Genomic analyses in a large collection of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients pinpointed frequent alterations

in several genes that can influence lymphoma development. Using genome-editing technologies we are mimicking these alterations in vitro and in vivo and we want to characterize their role

in tumor pathogenesis. Experimentally, this project includes analysis of genomic data, molecular and

cellular biology techniques, as for example cloning, western blot, cell infection and cell sorting. This project

will be done in collaboration with Stephanie Sunglee.

We are using Crispr/Cas9 libraries in combination with targeted specific inhibitors to identify novel

therapeutic targets in lymphoma. Moreover the screening will highlight genes that act synergistically

or induce resistance. This project required Crispr/Cas9 libraries preparation, cell infection, sequencing

analyses, and cloning. This project will be done in collaboration with Elena Battistello.

Primitive Neuro-Ectodermal tumors (PNET) are a rare form of pediatric brain tumors. We developed

a mouse model using human pluripotent stem cells (iPS) and neural precursor to study PNET

development and progression. Now, we are using this model to define metabolic and

epigenetic changes associated with tumor development. In this project, you will be able to

learn how to manipulate and differentiate iPS cells in Neural precursors, genetically modified the cells

and test the effect of altered gene in tumor development. This project will be done in collaboration

with Maria Donaldson.

Contact [email protected] for more information about these projects.