Project details

Tight control of gene expression is critical for normal development and homeostasis. Consequently, many layers of transcriptional regulation have evolved to control RNA Polymerase II (RNAPII) mediated RNA synthesis. When transcriptional control is lost, the ensuing dysregulation of gene-expression networks invariably results in human disease, including cancer. This notion has spurred the development of novel therapies that target transcriptional complexes.  

In recent work we have combined genome-wide CRISPR-screening approaches with state-of-the-art genomics and molecular biological approaches to discover, characterise and target new transcriptional regulatory complexes (Vervoort et al. Cell 2021).  

This project will combine unbiased screening approaches, with innovative bio-sensors and CRISPR-Cas9 genome-engineering to uncover novel coding and non-coding regulators of transcription and carefully delineate their molecular role through structural, molecular and genomics technologies.   

About our research group

The Vervoort lab will join WEHI in March 2022. We are enthusiastic, energetic and motivated to make groundbreaking discoveries that will feature in future molecular biology textbooks on transcription. We aim to use these new insights to deepen our understanding of transcriptional dysregulation in disease and find ways to exploit this therapeutically. This work combines bioinformatics, genomics, and molecular biological approaches and builds on recent publications in Cell, Molecular Cell, Science Advances and Nature Reviews Cancer, and involves many national and international collaborations.  

As a member of a small team you will receive in-depth supervision on your project and get trained in all the new genomics technologies and the bioinformatics analysis. Your success is our success!