Research Groups
There are currently over 30 research groups at the Dunn School, with leaders drawn from across the world. Their diverse interests, backgrounds and expertise creates a dynamic and stimulating environment. Many groups share common research interests which fosters the vibrant scientific community found at the Dunn School.
Structure and function of genes that regulate tumour phenotypes
Multiple cellular pathways are deregulated in tumours as a result of gene disruption, some of which alter growth and the propensity for tumour cells to invade and spread to other body sites. The importance of an experimental understanding of the basic science that underpins our knowledge of tumour...
Molecular mechanisms of bacterial membrane biogenesis
Using structural biology, biochemistry, and microbiology to study the molecular mechanisms by which Gram-negative bacteria build their outer membranes and protect themselves against antibiotics.
Macrophage modulation during viral infection and neuroinflammation
We are based in the James & Lillian Martin Centre.
The macrophage is a key cell in human health and disease, and we have developed very powerful methods for dissecting both physiological and pathological pathways in both infectious and non-infectious disease. We are currently focusing most on...
The Lea group has now relocated to the Center for Structural Biology at the NIH National Cancer Institute, USA, maintaining a small team at the Dunn School.
Host-pathogen interactions
An understanding of the way in which an invading pathogen interacts with its host at a molecular level is an essential aid to understanding the nature and extent of...
Recognition of abnormal cells by leukocyte receptors
My group studies the mechanisms by which leukocytes, such as T cells, use cell surface receptors to recognise infected or otherwise abnormal cells. The T cell receptor (TCR) plays a major role in this process by probing the surfaces of cells for the presence of 'foreign' peptides presented on MHC molecules in a...
The CTD of RNA polymerase II and elongation checkpoints
During transcription of both protein-coding and snRNA genes by RNA polymerase II (pol II), transcription and RNA processing are tightly coupled. Our most recent work has focused on understanding the mechanics of this connection.
Post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in cancer.
We study post-transcriptional aspects of gene regulation, and specifically how these differ between cancer cells and their normal counterparts. One project in this area focuses on translation initiation factor eIF3e (also known as INT6), high levels of which in breast cancer are...
Gene punctuation: Transcriptional termination in eukaryotes.
We study the molecular mechanisms that define the extent of transcription units generated by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) across mammalian genomes. Especially how do protein coding transcripts differ from long noncoding transcripts in their mode of synthesis and coupled RNA processing?