Editing cancer gene function at nucleotide resolution
Genome editing technologies such as CRISPR-Cas9 have revolutionized our ability to precisely manipulate genetic material. However, these technologies often have limitations in their ability to efficiently and accurately edit every target site, particularly in certain cell types or complex genomic regions. To address these limitations, a new approach called Saturation Genome Editing (SGE) has been developed, which we are deploying to define every possible change in all established cancer genes with the aim of understand all tumourigenic somatic and germline variants. I will talk about these and other technologies; how we are using them to understand cancers’ complexity and define targets for therapy.
Short bio
Dr. Adams is a Senior Group Leader in the Cancer Ageing and Somatic Mutation programme at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and leads the Experimental Cancer Genetics Laboratory. He is co-head of the Cambridge Cancer Centre Cell and Molecular Biology Programme, a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and the Royal College of Pathologists, a member of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) of the Brain Tumour Charity, and a member of the SAB of the International Laboratory of Human Genome Research. He is also a founding member of the Atlas of Variant Effects (AVE) consortium and a member of the steering committee of the Society for Melanoma Research, and co-chairs Genomel (The Genetics of Melanoma Consortium). His group uses large-scale genomic studies and genome editing to identify cancer genes and explore their function.
Dr. Adams is co-head of the Sanger Excellence Programme for Black British scientist (with Dr. Saher Ahmed) and is involved in advocacy efforts for cancer genetic studies in LMICs, particularly with Latin American countries; work which is funded by the MRC and Royal Society.
Outside of work Dave is a keen distance runner (10km and half Marathons), a consumer of copious quantities of coffee and a failed vegetarian.