Epigenetics
Epigenetic changes in cells is one of the hallmarks of cancer. Small units such as RNA can modify and control gene expression in a way that is only now being understood in relation to human health. Oxford research strives to understand how epigenetic information in a cell is stored in the form of chemical modifications within its DNA, RNA and histone proteins, as well as how modifications can ultimately impact biological processes and lead to cancer. With this information, novel single-cell technologies and chemical biology can be applied to the development of new treatments in a way that targets epigenetic mechanisms.