Circadian control of energy metabolism and inflammation

Employing a range of approaches to address the physiological importance of the circadian:nuclear receptor system, ranging from population genetics, Circadian mechanisms regulate most mammalian physiology, with particular importance in the regulation of innate immunity, through the macrophage in particular, and energy metabolism, regulating liver, adipose and muscle. These circuits are also regulated by a number of nuclear receptors, which show a striking interdependency on the circadian machinery; some having ligand availability regulated by the clock, others varying in expression level through the day. We have employed a range of approaches to address the physiological importance of the circadian:nuclear receptor system, ranging from population genetics, experimental medicine studies, CRISPR engineered mice, and cell biology. In particular the group are making great progress using systems microscopy to resolve cell signalling events in fine temporal resolution, coupled to computational approaches to model single molecule behaviour. These approaches have discovered how the important dimension of time regulates metabolism and coordinates diverse tissues to deliver optimal organismal performance. Importantly, we are identifying how external stressors can de-couple these systems, with deleterious effects. This work has attracted Wellcome Investigator and MRC programme grant support, allowing the group to perform ambitious studies at scale, speed, and with agility. David is a passionate advocate of research training, serving on the MRC clinical fellowship panel for seven years, three as deputy chair.

We are interested in discovering how the circadian clock in metabolic tissues (liver and adipose) regulates energy metabolism. There is evidence that the clock operating within these metabolic tissues plays an important role, but that this local clockwork is necessary, but not sufficient to drive circadian metabolism. We have new technology to address the missing circadian elements, which is present in the circulation.

The synergistic actions of local and systemic clock circuits in the liver drive more than 90% of the lipogenic gene expression programme. We have investigated the epigenetic determinants of circadian control, and find that chromatin accessibility is not important, but that 3-D chromatin looping is. Using this new technique we will identify the circadian enhancerome of the liver, and from this build the full network of circadian control. This network will then be investigated using new epigenetic regulator chemical biology approaches.

Training Opportunities
The student will gain training in cell and molecular biology, in-vivo physiology, genomics, and computational biology. The techniques we use are covered in the recent publication, as attached. In addition, we will provide high-level training in systems microscopy, coupled to image analysis, which we will use to build in-silico models, and inform the design of hypothesis testing experiments. We have full-time computational biology researchers within the group, which greatly aids acquisition of new skills, and the formulation of new testable hypotheses, and encourage all graduate students to learn to code eg R, or Python, skills which are very high demand in biomedical research.

Students will be enrolled on the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine DPhil Course, which takes place in the autumn of their first year. Running over several days, this course helps students to develop basic research and presentation skills, as well as introducing them to a wide-range of scientific techniques and principles, ensuring that students have the opportunity to build a broad-based understanding of differing research methodologies.

Generic skills training is offered through the Medical Sciences Division’s Skills Training Programme. This programme offers a comprehensive range of courses covering many important areas of researcher development: knowledge and intellectual abilities, personal effectiveness, research governance and organisation, and engagement, influence and impact. Students are actively encouraged to take advantage of the training opportunities available to them.

As well as the specific training detailed above, students will have access to a wide-range of seminars and training opportunities through the many research institutes and centres based in Oxford.

The Department has a successful mentoring scheme, open to graduate students, which provides an additional possible channel for personal and professional development outside the regular supervisory framework. We hold an Athena SWAN Silver Award in recognition of our efforts to build a happy and rewarding environment where all staff and students are supported to achieve their full potential.