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 institute 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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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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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. Current focus includes breast and lung cancer.
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==Research scope==
==Research scope==
[[Image:Cancer vs crab.jpg|200px|right]]  
[[Image:Cancer vs crab.jpg|200px|right]]  
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Cancer cells differ from their normal counterparts by having acquired numerous genetic and epigenetic changes and as a consequence have re-arranged their cellular network. Cancer cells have become dependent on nodes in these networks that are not critical in normal tissues. We aim to identify these cancer vulnerabilities or "Achilles' heels" of cancer cells using large scale functional genomics and chemical biology.
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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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==Projects==
==Projects==
===Synthetic lethal interactions in mammalian cells===
===Synthetic lethal interactions in mammalian cells===
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A particular type of cancer vulnerability is called [[synthetic lethality|synthetic lethal/sick]] (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 with the aim to identify novel therapeutic angles for cancer. In particular, we are currently focusing on breast and lung cancer.
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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.
===Cell circuits and cancer: Ubiquitin dynamics===
===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 [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. Now, we are suing these libraries to identify potential new drug targets for cancer therapy
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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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[[Image:Ubiquitin cartoon.png|250px|right]] <br>
[[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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==Collaborations==
 
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Collaborations are crucial for modern day science!
 
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Listed here are some 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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