Dynamic modelling of synthetically lethal pathways in the development of cancer therapeutics

IIn many cancers, the genetic changes that drive the disease are caused by genes losing their normal function. This makes it challenging to develop treatments that target the specific genetic features of cancer cells. Synthetic lethality (SL) is a concept where the loss of function in two genes causes cell death, but if only one gene is affected, the cell can survive. This idea can be used to develop treatments that target cancer-related genes that have lost their normal function.
The PhD student will work in the Pearl Bioinformatics Lab, which has developed new computer methods to identify synthetically lethal gene pairs. This project involves identifying a pathway for a therapeutic synthetic lethal gene pair and building dynamic computational models for that pathway. The student will then have the opportunity to optimise and test the model with the industrial partner Oppilotech.
In the final year, the student will work on experiments in the Hochegger lab at Sussex University, using techniques like CRISPR/Cas9 to validate the findings.
The goal of this project is to create valuable insights into cancer biology. The work could also lead to new drug development in cancer treatment, with a positive impact on human health.