Nucleic acids in health and disease

Our research teams focus on all aspects of nucleic acids in health and disease, with the goal of better understanding basic processes and developing therapeutic interventions to improve human health.

petri dish with DNA
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The health of our cells depends on the smooth running of processes controlled by nucleic acids. Diseases can arise when these processes go awry. For instance, cancer may develop when mutations accumulate in DNA, or when the complex mechanisms which maintain genome integrity break down, leading to malfunctioning proteins. Alternatively, genes might be switched on or off at inappropriate times or locations, and changes in RNA structure have been linked to neurodegenerative diseases like ALS.

This research theme is led by Dr Tatyana Shelkovnikova.

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Centres of excellence

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