The role of cell type specific DNA methylation at the interface between genetics and gene expression in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

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Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disease with no cure. Each year 5000 people in the UK die of IPF. Genetic changes make people susceptible to IPF. How genetic changes affecting all cells of the body, link to biological processes going wrong in only certain cells of the lung is unknown. We think a process called DNA methylation, known to be crucial for generating different cell types, provides the link between our genetic code and cell specific disease changes. Better understanding of DNA methylation in IPF will provide patient benefit via increased understanding of disease and treatment targets. The key aim of this project is to use cutting-edge technologies and the expert support of the supervisory team to identify and understand cell type differences in DNA methylation, in DNA regions of interest in IPF, and their link to gene expression and cell function. The student will learn fundamental techniques including cell culture and molecular cell biology, transcriptomic, genomic and epigenomic analysis in R, and method development of cell type-specific profiling techniques including laser capture microdissection and single nuclear bisulphite sequencing from formalin fixed tissue. The project includes cross institute learning, including the University of Nottingham, Leicester, and Adelaide.