Research

Our group is interested in epigenetic regulation of somatic mutagenesis in normal and malignant B cells. Specifically, we aim to understand how alterations in the nuclear envelope influence B cell chromatin conformation, and what the epigenetic consequences of these alterations are.

At a systemic level, we are interested in how the lamina-associated chromatin domain (LAD) dynamics influence normal adaptive immunity, and whether dysregulation of this mechanism leads to autoimmunity and cancer.

From a translational perspective, we are aiming to develop novel therapeutic strategies to target nuclear lamina, establishing a new generation of treatment modalities of malignant lymphoma.

Other Activities

• Director of Postgraduate Taught Programmes, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London
• Course Director: MSc Cancer and Therapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London
• PhD Supervision – Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London
• Module lead – Cancer Biology, Cancer MSc Programmes, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, UK
• Module lead – Targeted Therapies and Immunotherapy of Haematological Malignancies. Cancer MSc Programmes, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, UK
• Module lead – Human Anatomy. School of Biological and Chemical Sciences. Queen Mary University of London
• OSCE2, OSCE 3, OSCE4 and OSCE5 (finals) examiner - Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry
• A100 and A101 MBBS entry interviewer - Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry
• Undergraduate Mentor: MBBS Years 4 and 5, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry

Major Funding

• 2019-2022- Blood Cancer UK, Lamin B1-mediated genomic instability in leukaemia and lymphoma, £229,104
• Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)
• Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund
• Barry Reed Cancer Trust
• “Bolashak” fellowship programme, Republic of Kazakhstan

Recent Publications

Rituximab and obinutuzumab differentially hijack the B-cell receptor and NOTCH1 signaling pathways. Edelmann J, Dokal AD, Vilventhraraja E et al. iScience (2021) (1) 102089-102089

Multiplatform Profiling Characterizes Functional Networks in Genomically Stable and Instable Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Bloehdorn J, Braun A, Jebaraj BMC et al. Blood (2020) 136(1) 12-13

Anti-CD20 Monoclonal Antibodies Hijack the B-Cell Receptor Signaling Cascade Thereby Activating the NOTCH1 Signaling Pathway Edelmann J, Britton DJ, Vilventhraraja E et al. Blood (2018) 132(1) 588-588

Lamin B1 regulates somatic mutations and progression of B-cell malignancies. Klymenko T, Bloehdorn J, Bahlo J et al. Leukemia 32(1) 364-375
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28804121

NUCLEAR LAMINA REGULATES SOMATIC HYPERMUTATION AND PROGRESSION OF B CELL MALIGNANCIES Klymenko T, Bloehdorn J, Bahlo J et al. HAEMATOLOGICA (2017) 102(11) 228-228
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000404127002077&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=612ae0d773dcbdba3046f6df545e9f6a

ONCOGENE-EXPRESSING SENESCENT MELANOCYTES UPREGULATE MHC CLASS II, A CANDIDATE MELANOMA SUPPRESSOR FUNCTION BRAUNS A Journal of Investigative Dermatology (1)

In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ΔCT7544-7545 Mutant NOTCH1 Maintains Transcription Factor Activity with Longer Lasting Effects Due to Slower Degradation Edelmann J, Klymenko T, Lu C et al. Blood (2016) 128(10) 971-971

Mammalian autophagy degrades nuclear constituents in response to tumorigenic stress. Dou Z, Ivanov A, Adams PD et al. Autophagy (2016) 12(1) 1416-1417
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26654219

Autophagy mediates degradation of nuclear lamina Dou Z, Xu C, Donahue G et al. Nature (2015) 527(7) 105-109

HIRA orchestrates a dynamic chromatin landscape in senescence and is required for suppression of Neoplasia Rai TS, Cole JJ, Nelson DM et al. Genes and Development (2014) 28(7) 2712-2725

Team

Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr Marta Crespi-Sallan

Biography

• Sept 2013 – present Lecturer, Centre for Haemato-Oncology. Barts Cancer Institute. Queen Mary, University of London.
• Apr 2009 – Sept 2013. Postdoctoral Research Associate. Beatson Institute for Cancer Research. University of Glasgow, Glasgow. UK.
• Jun 2004 – Sept 2008. Cancer Research UK PhD studentship. Paterson Institute for Cancer Research. University of Manchester.
• Nov 2002 – Jun 2004. Visiting Research Fellow. Cancer Sciences Division, University of Southampton, Southampton. UK