The Fischer Group - Epigenetics and Genomic Stability

The Fischer lab investigates the connection between chromatin structure, pervasive transcription and RNA surveillance, and their influence on genomic stability.

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Research themes

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About

The major research focus in the Fischer lab is to understand the connection between chromatin structure, pervasive transcription and RNA surveillance, and their influence on genomic stability and disease development, especially in cancer and ageing-related diseases. In addition, the lab is pursuing synthetic biology approaches to develop early detection and novel treatment methods in cancer.

Tamás Fischer is an Associate Professor at The John Curtin School of Medical Research (JCSMR) at The Australian National University. He completed his PhD studies in 2005 at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, working on the nuclear export of mRNA and its coupling to transcription. Following his PhD, he was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship in epigenetics and chromatin biology at the National Cancer Institute (NCI, NIH) in the USA. He returned to Germany in 2010 to establish his own independent research group at the University of Heidelberg Biochemistry Center. He has recently moved his laboratory to Canberra, Australia to join the Department of Genome Sciences at JCSMR.

Enquiries are welcome from potential Honours or PhD students. Please contact us.

Projects

Although only a small percentage of our genome consists of protein coding genes, the majority of the genome is transcriptionally active, resulting in significant quantities of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) transcripts. We are studying the co-transcriptional recruitment of RNA binding complexes to the nascent transcripts.

Student intake

Open for Honours, PhD students

People

Generating a molecular tool that can distinguish between cancer cells and non-cancer cells by detecting specific mutations in the genome, and eliminating cancer cells very specifically, without the strong side-effects of current cancer treatments.

Student intake

Open for Honours, PhD students

People

The long-term goal of this project is to understand the interplay between chromatin modifications, nucleosome-positions, -turnover and -occupancy, and perhaps other as yet unknown chromatin characteristics, that allow the dynamic regulation of the eukaryotic genome.

Student intake

Open for Honours, PhD students

People

An exciting and novel development in the field of DNA-repair. Our mid-to long-term research goals will focus on the molecular mechanism behind this finding both in the fission yeast S. pombe and in mammalian cells. Findings have also identified potential new targets for cancer treatments.

Student intake

Open for Honours, PhD students

People

Members

Leader

Tamas Fischer

Group Leader - The Fischer Group

Technician

Nicole Thomsen

Technical Officer

Technical Officer

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Technical Officer

Student

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Honours Student

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Honours Student

PhD Student

Jing Zhang

PhD Student

News

ANU 3MT Final 2024 - Rakshanya and Sasanan

Creating a historic moment for the John Curtin School of Medical Research (JCSMR), two of our outstanding PhD students Sasanan and Rakshanya claimed the winner and runner-up awards at the Australian National University (ANU) 3-Minute Thesis Competition 2024 grand finale, held on 25 July at Llewellyn Hall.

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Andrew Zeller, Dan Palmer, Fiona Lewis and Sandali Seneviratne have had a big year conducting their Honours research at The John Curtin School of Medical Research. They share the highlights of a stressful, but rewarding journey.

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