NL
DE
About
We study molecular mechanisms of leukemia development with a focus on epigenetic modifiers, splicing factors and transcription factors. In addition, factors influencing clonal evolution in premalignant and malignant states is studied.
Research group leader
prof. dr. Joop Jansen
Aims
- To identify the genetic mutations that are at the basis of malignant transformation in leukemia and study their downstream molecular and cellular effects.
- To understand the role of mutations in therapy response and assess possibilities for targeted therapy.
- To study factors that drive the evolutionary process from pre-leukemia to leukemia and finally therapy-resistant leukemia with the aim to prevent leukemia development and/or progression.
We study the molecular-genetic background of leukemia, with a focus on myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
We investigate the genetic, pathogenic mutations and their downstream molecular and cellular consequences in several model systems. Specifically, we focus on genes that are implicated in the regulation of gene expression such as transcription factors, epigenetic regulators and splicing factors. Apart from the molecular and cellular consequences, the relevance of these mutations in therapy response, relapse and prognosis are assessed.
Finally, we study the mechanisms behind the expansion and genetic evolution from pre-malignant, malignant and finally therapy-resistant clones of cells, in order to find clues for prevention of leukemia development and/or disease progression.
