AML/MDS Research

Principal Investigator: Professor Ken Mills

The molecular and cytogenetic abnormalities in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) and Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are increasingly well defined and these are being implicated in stratification for clinical trials. The current research is focused around using samples obtained from NCRI AML clinical trials to gene expression to identify signatures that are associated with disease classification and prognosis.

In addition, to this AML and MDS samples are being used for the analysis of altered methylation by pyrosequencing of candidate genes and using CpG arrays for the changes in methylation status around 12k sites. miRNA expression profiles are also being assayed to add another level in the disease classification and prognosis. The joint grant with the NCI has allowed collaborative research using advanced technologies. The integration of these data from the same cohort of patients is being used to identify specific genes that are de-regulated as potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

Funding from Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland Leukaemia Research Fund, Leukaemia Lymphoma Research, Cancer Recognised Research Group for NI and the NCI Joint Research Projects in Cancer (NCI, HRB and R&D Office).

AML/MDS Team

Research Assistants:	Anne Carson
Post-doctoral Scientists:	Dr Kathleen O'Hagan	Dr Kerry Pettigrew
Post-graduate Students:	Hilary Colyer	Richard Armstrong	Marie Gaine	Fabio Liberante		Gemma Logan	Jodie Hay