biomedical sciences research institute - Research - University of Ulster

MEMBERS OF THE GROUPDr Colum Walsh, Group LeaderSenior Lecturer in Molecular GeneticsContact details:T: +44 (0)28 70324484cp.walsh@ulster.ac.ukDr Walsh’s main research interests are in the fields of Epigenetics and Fertility.We are currently focused on the role of DNA methylation in reprogramming gene expression during germ celldevelopment, particularly in the oocytes. This process is extremely important for resetting genes and avoidingdevelopmental disease syndromes such as Beckwith-Weidemann and Angelman.We have also found a novel link between DNA modification and DNA repair which may not only explain someof the puzzling features of colon cancer cells but also lead to novel therapeutic approaches in the future. Wehave created cell lines deficient in MLH1 (a repair protein) and DNMT1 (a DNA modification protein) and haveextensive preliminary data on these. We wish to exploit the model systems we have created to examine moreclosely the cross-talk between the modification and repair systems and the effects of perturbing each on cellularresistance to chemotherapeutic drugs.Further information on this Group’s research activities can be found at the following website: http://www.science.ulster.ac.uk/stemcell/index.html93