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| Predictive and structural approaches for the identification and characterisation of novel mouse models of human disease generated by ENU mutagenesis. | ||||||||||||
The overall goal of the project is to advance our understanding of genetic diseases using data arising from Next Generation Sequencing projects. One of the key areas of study in the biomedical sciences is to elucidate protein functions within cells and how those functions translate to health. Indeed, to deliver on the promise of genome projects for health care, we must understand the information implicit in the genome, specifically, the functions of the proteins encoded by the genes. This project will assess the impact of genetic mutations occurring in mice, using both predictive and experimental approaches, in order to understand changes in structure and function of the protein products. Mice are the most amenable mammal to genetic manipulation, as they have a short life cycle and share 99% of their genes with humans. Because of this, the mouse is now the most commonly used mammalian model of disease. The protein products of interest will derive from existing projects at MRC Harwell in developmental genetics, neuroscience, metabolism and inflammation. The majority of the protein products are potential drug targets relevant to the biopharmaceutical industry. After identification of potential gene targets, bioinformatics techniques will be used to predict the encoded protein structures and functions. These data will be validated using state-of-the-art bioanalytical techniques. Life Science research at Reading is well supported by platform technologies, which include: proteomics, mass spectrometry, surface plasmon resonance, structural biology, and transcriptomics within our BioCentre, electron and atomic force microscopy at the Centre for Advanced Microscopy, functional magnetic resonance imaging within the Centre for Integrated Neuroscience and Neurodynamics, nuclear magnetic resonance analysis, thermal analysis, and other diffraction technologies within the newly formed Chemical Analytical Facility. Application forms can be found here: http://www.reading.ac.uk/Study/study-pg.aspx Funding Notes This is a fully-funded 4 year PhD project, jointly funded by the University of Reading, MRC Harwell and the Diamond Light Source. The student will be based at the University of Reading (http://www.reading.ac.uk/) and will receive training in a wide range of post-genomic techniques, both experimental and theoretical. Extended periods of time will be spent at our partner institutions, MRC Harwell (http://www.har.mrc.ac.uk/) and the Diamond Light Source (http://www.diamond.ac.uk/), both located in Oxfordshire. |
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