Research

The research in the department is centred on DNA replication and DNA repair - mutually connected processes, that are under the control of the cell cycle. We are particularly interested in the ways chromatin regulators control DNA replication and repair. Understanding the chromatin aspects of the genome integrity maintenance will have significant health implications as it will allow the development of better therapeutic strategies in cancer. 

A separate aspect of our work explores new ways of drug delivery to the target cells to increase the specificity and efficiency of anticancer therapy.

Recently we started work on the epigenetic mechanisms that control changes in gene expression in the course of differentiation and development. We will investigate the role of non-coding RNAs in the human beta-globin gene locus. The aim of these studies will be to elucidate how ncRNAs are involved in setting up and maintaining specific chromatin landscapes that determine the transcriptional activity during the cell cycle and at defined stages of differentiation and development.