Molecular signalling pathways controlling gene expression during chronic disease progression

Summary In this project you will explore in molecular terms how a particular inflammatory cell type (macrophage/dendritic cell) can adapt to provide a pro-inflammatory environment with consequences for persistence or otherwise of these significant diseases.

Project Details

Project description: Inflammation is now known to be associated with many chronic diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, obesity/type II diabetes and heart disease. This project aims to understand molecular signalling pathways controlling the expression of genes critical for the progression of such diseases. In this project you will explore in molecular terms how a particular inflammatory cell type (macrophage/dendritic cell) can adapt to provide a pro-inflammatory environment with consequences for persistence or otherwise of these significant diseases. More specifically you will investigate how transcription factors control the expression of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Elucidation of these molecular pathways will lead to the development of novel therapies.

Techniques: You will acquire a wide-range of skills in cell biology (primary human monocytes/macrophage culture, ELISA assays, confocal microscopy and flow cytometry), and biochemistry and molecular biology (Western blotting, Real‐Time PCR and siRNA‐mediated gene knock-down).