Computational & Systems Biology Research Group
Our faculty is championing applications of Computational and Systems Biology approaches in basic research underpinning health and industrial biotechnology. Members of our research group have unique international profile in integrating state of the art approaches of functional genomics with computational systems biology, bioinformatics and mathematical modelling. Analysis of gene regulation at the whole-cell level by both transcriptomics and genome-wide determination of regulatory protein binding is represented by Colin Smith and Giselda Bucca. Andre Gerber has a strong research interest in analysis of the role of non-coding RNAs and RNA-binding proteins in the regulation of the global gene expression program. Our experimental research is fully integrated with bioinformatics expertise of Emma Laing, computational systems biology research of Andrzej Kierzek, and the theoretical research of Andrea Rocco on dynamical noise in subcellular networks and phenotypic variability. Together, we have developed unique strengths in analysis of high-throughput experimental data in the context of genome-scale molecular interaction networks. Michael Bushell, Claudio Avignone-Rossa, Colin Smith and Andrzej Kierzek pioneered the predictive use of genome scale metabolic networks for industrial biotechnology and, in doing so, have developed pipeline technology for the creation of network models from sequence data. Michael Bushell and Claudio Avignone-Rossa have long-standing expertise in fermentation technologies and use analysis of global cell metabolism for design of bioprocesses applied in pharmaceutical production and biofuels. Nick Plant is at the forefront of the Systems Biology of nuclear receptors, hepatocyte and liver disease and is collaborating with Andrzej Kierzek towards applications of large-scale molecular interaction networks to provide mechanistic link between genotype and the disease. Derek Stevenson is a council member of Royal Society of Chemistry and has long standing expertise in analytical chemistry, which is invaluable for quantitative biology approach.
Members of our group collaborate with other Research Groups on integrative, systems level investigation of genotype-phenotype relationships in:
bacterial pathogens (Kierzek, Laing, Rocco, Bushell, Avignone-Rossa),
innate immunity (Kierzek),
cancer (Kierzek, Laing, Smith, Bucca, Plant),
sleep and metabolic disorders (Laing, Smith, Bucca).
We have active collaborations with the industry where our research expertise contributes towards personalised therapy/diagnostics (Plant) and improved bioprocess design (Bushell, Avignone-Rossa, Smith, Bucca).
