Nijman

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[[Category:Nijman]]
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[[Image:Logo CeMM 3.gif|left|250px|Logo CeMM 3.gif]]<br> <br> <br>
[[Image:Logo CeMM 3.gif|left|250px|Logo CeMM 3.gif]]<br> <br> <br>
The Nijman lab is at the Center for Molecular Medicine ([http://www.cemm.oeaw.ac.at/ CeMM], pronounce \sam\) in Vienna, Austria . We have recently moved into our new research building right next to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna_General_Hospital Vienna General Hospital], one of the largest academic hospitals in Europe.  
The Nijman lab is at the Center for Molecular Medicine ([http://www.cemm.oeaw.ac.at/ CeMM], pronounce \sam\) in Vienna, Austria . We have recently moved into our new research building right next to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna_General_Hospital Vienna General Hospital], one of the largest academic hospitals in Europe.  
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CeMM is an international, independent and interdisciplinary research of the Austrian Academy of Sciences dedicated to research with a human focus.  
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CeMM is an international, independent and interdisciplinary institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences dedicated to research with a human focus. CeMM’s mission is to combine insight obtained from basic and clinical research and use it to implement the development of innovative therapeutic and diagnostic strategies: “From the clinic to the clinic”
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“From the clinic to the clinic”
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==Research scope==
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CeMM’s mission is to combine insight obtained from basic and clinical research and use it to implement the development of innovative therapeutic and diagnostic strategies – from the clinic to the clinic.
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[[Image:Cancer vs crab.jpg|200px|right]]
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In the Nijman lab we are particularly interested in cancer and try to understand the molecular processes that are misregulated in this disease with the ultimate aim to identify new therapeutic strategies. <br>
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Cancer cells differ from normal cells by having acquired numerous genetic and epigenetic changes. As a consequence, cancer cells have become dependent on gene products that are not critical in normal tissues. We refer to these dependencies as vulnerabilities or Achilles' heels. We perform experiments to identify these cancer vulnerabilities or <nowiki>"</nowiki>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achilles%27_heel Achilles' heels]<nowiki>"</nowiki> of cancer cells using large-scale functional genomics and chemical biology. We are currently focusing on breast and lung cancer.
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In the Nijman lab we are particularly interested in cancer and try to understand the cellular circuitry that is misregulated in this disease. In addition, we wish to identify new angles for patient stratified cancer therapy using genomics strategies, such as genetic and compound screens.
 
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==Research scope==
 
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[[Image:Cancer vs crab.jpg|200px|right]] In the post-genomic era, a major challenge is to understand the molecular networks that allow the cell perform it's physiological function. Within the Nijman lab the aim is to contribute to the understanding of the cellular circuitry in health and disease with a particular focus on cancer. In addition, we try to find new angles for cancer therapy. In order to achieve these goals, the lab employs state-of-the-art technology, [[genomics]] and bioinformatics.
 
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==Projects==
==Projects==
===Synthetic lethal interactions in mammalian cells===
===Synthetic lethal interactions in mammalian cells===
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During the last 5 years,'' in vitro'' human cell genetics has become within reach for many laboratories around the world. One of the challenges for the coming years is to use the available tools in new and creative ways to fully exploit the power of experimental genetics. In this context, a major focus of the lab is the high-throughput assessment of [[synthetic lethality|synthetic lethal/sick]] (SSL) interactions using chemical compounds and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rnai RNAi]. In particular we are trying to identify genotype-specific cancer vulnerabilites or <nowiki>"</nowiki>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achilles%27_heel Achilles' heels]<nowiki>"</nowiki>.
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A particular type of cancer vulnerability is [[synthetic lethality|synthetic lethality/sickness]] (SSL), a term derived from classical genetics. SSL occurs when two genetic perturbation are only deleterious to a cell or organism in combination. We have recently established a method to screen large numbers of cancer relevant combinations and are now employing this technology in projects relating to breast and lung cancer.
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===Cell circuits and cancer: Ubiquitin dynamics===
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Other projects in the lab are generally focussed on cancer-relevant pathways and signaling dynamics, such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubiquitination ubiquitination]/deubiquitination. To identify deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) in pathways or processes of interest we employ various post-genomic strategies. We have previously identified DUBs in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NF-kB NF-kappaB] signaling, DNA repair and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoxia_%28medical%29 hypoxia] signaling. Now, we are also exploring DUBs as potential therapeutic targets in breast cancer.
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===Cell circuits and cancer===
 
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====Ubiquitin dynamics====
 
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Other projects in the lab are generally focussed on cancer-relevant pathways and signaling dynamics, such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubiquitination ubiquitination]/deubiquitination. To identify deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) in pathways or processes of interest we employ [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rnai RNAi] libraries directed against all DUBs in the human genome. Using this approach we have previously identifid DUBs in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NF-kB NF-kappaB] signaling, DNA repair and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoxia_%28medical%29 hypoxia] signaling.
 
[[Image:Ubiquitin cartoon.png|250px|right]] <br>
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''Figure (right). Ribbon representation of ubiquitin protein, highlighting the secondary structure. α-helices are coloured in blue and the β-sheet in green. The typical attachment point for a further ubiquitin molecule in polyubiquitin chain formation, lysine 48, is shown in pink.''
''Figure (right). Ribbon representation of ubiquitin protein, highlighting the secondary structure. α-helices are coloured in blue and the β-sheet in green. The typical attachment point for a further ubiquitin molecule in polyubiquitin chain formation, lysine 48, is shown in pink.''
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====Genetic screens====
 
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The lab also employs genome wide gain-of-function and loss-of-function screens using cDNA and shRNA libraries.
 
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[[Image:TFE3 rescue.png|300px|left]]
 
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''Figure (left). Colony formation assay showing that overexpression of TFE3 can by-pass the temperature sensitive growth arrest induced by pRB. Figure taken from Nijman et. al. JBC (2006) [http://www.jbc.org/cgi/content/full/281/31/21582 Free access].'' <br>
 
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For instance, we identified the transcription factor TFE3 as a regulator of cell-cycle arrest induced by the Retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retinoblastoma_protein pRB]).
 
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==Collaborations==
 
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Collaborations are crucial for modern day science!
 
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Listed here are some (science) friends and collaborators:
 
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[http://www.med.nyu.edu/people/huangt03.html Tony Huang] (NYU)
 
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[http://www.wi.mit.edu/research/fellows/brummelkamp.html Thijn Brummelkamp] (MIT, Whitehead Institute)
 
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[http://www.nki.nl/Research/Faculty+and+Research/Divisions/Molecular+Carcinogenesis/Bernards.htm Rene Bernards ] (Netherlands Cancer Institute)
 
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[http://www.broad.mit.edu/about/bios/bio-golub.html Todd Golub] (Broad Institute, MIT/Harvard)
 
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[http://www.broad.mit.edu/about/bios/bio-root.html Dave Root] (Broad Institute, MIT/Harvard)
 
==In the news==
==In the news==
[http://diepresse.com/home/techscience/wissenschaft/424264/index.do?from=suche.intern.portal Die Presse]
[http://diepresse.com/home/techscience/wissenschaft/424264/index.do?from=suche.intern.portal Die Presse]
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[http://www.news-medical.net/?id=10026 Medical News]
 
Sebastian Nijman wins [[Nijman:Wiener Zukunftspreis |"Future of Vienna award" (Wiener Zukunftspreis)]] See also [http://www.cemm.oeaw.ac.at/?cont=news CeMM News]
Sebastian Nijman wins [[Nijman:Wiener Zukunftspreis |"Future of Vienna award" (Wiener Zukunftspreis)]] See also [http://www.cemm.oeaw.ac.at/?cont=news CeMM News]

Revision as of 09:56, 31 May 2011

Contact        Positions        Lab Members        Publications        Links        Other       


Contents

About

Logo CeMM 3.gif



The Nijman lab is at the Center for Molecular Medicine (CeMM, pronounce \sam\) in Vienna, Austria . We have recently moved into our new research building right next to Vienna General Hospital, one of the largest academic hospitals in Europe. CeMM is an international, independent and interdisciplinary institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences dedicated to research with a human focus. CeMM’s mission is to combine insight obtained from basic and clinical research and use it to implement the development of innovative therapeutic and diagnostic strategies: “From the clinic to the clinic”

Research scope

In the Nijman lab we are particularly interested in cancer and try to understand the molecular processes that are misregulated in this disease with the ultimate aim to identify new therapeutic strategies.
Cancer cells differ from normal cells by having acquired numerous genetic and epigenetic changes. As a consequence, cancer cells have become dependent on gene products that are not critical in normal tissues. We refer to these dependencies as vulnerabilities or Achilles' heels. We perform experiments to identify these cancer vulnerabilities or "Achilles' heels" of cancer cells using large-scale functional genomics and chemical biology. We are currently focusing on breast and lung cancer.




Figure (right). Breast cancer in a mastectomy specimen (top). The cancerous tumour (pale yellow) resembles the figure of a crab, giving the disease its name.


Projects

Synthetic lethal interactions in mammalian cells

A particular type of cancer vulnerability is synthetic lethality/sickness (SSL), a term derived from classical genetics. SSL occurs when two genetic perturbation are only deleterious to a cell or organism in combination. We have recently established a method to screen large numbers of cancer relevant combinations and are now employing this technology in projects relating to breast and lung cancer.

Cell circuits and cancer: Ubiquitin dynamics

Other projects in the lab are generally focussed on cancer-relevant pathways and signaling dynamics, such as ubiquitination/deubiquitination. To identify deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) in pathways or processes of interest we employ various post-genomic strategies. We have previously identified DUBs in NF-kappaB signaling, DNA repair and hypoxia signaling. Now, we are also exploring DUBs as potential therapeutic targets in breast cancer.



Figure (right). Ribbon representation of ubiquitin protein, highlighting the secondary structure. α-helices are coloured in blue and the β-sheet in green. The typical attachment point for a further ubiquitin molecule in polyubiquitin chain formation, lysine 48, is shown in pink.


In the news

Die Presse

Sebastian Nijman wins "Future of Vienna award" (Wiener Zukunftspreis) See also CeMM News


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