The Morison laboratory focuses on epigenetics, cancer, haematology, development, and the placenta. With an interest in the use of DNA methylation as a marker of blood cancers, specifically childhood leukaemia, myelodysplasia and myeloma, the Morison Laboratory seeks to understand the origins, biology, diagnosis, and treatment of these diseases.
The laboratory also focuses on the role of DNA methylation in the normal and the diseased placenta. The normal placenta shows much lower levels of methylation than cells in the body. Furthermore placental disease such as pre-eclampsia shows differences in DNA methylation that hold promise as diagnostic markers.
The mechanisms of changes in methylation following drug treatment or specific environmental exposures is also investigated by the laboratory. To perform DNA methylation research the team have implemented cutting edge molecular techniques including genome-wide bisulphite sequencing and barcoded hairpin-bisulphite sequencing, along with associated bioinformatic pipelines.
The genetics of blood disorders including familial thrombocytopenia has provided new insights into the mechanisms of platelet formation through the actions of cytochrome c. Other genetic studies the team are focused on include myelodysplastic syndrome and myeloma.
Our key people
- Professor Ian MorisonPrincipal Investigator
- Dr Robert WeeksSenior Research Fellow
- Dr Erin MacaulayResearch Fellow
- Jackie LudgateAssistant Research Fellow
- Abdul AlsalehPhD candidate
- Issam MayyasPhD candidate
- Suzan Al MomaniPhD candidate
- Luke Bridgman BMedSc(Hons) student