Tiffen Laboratory
The Tiffen Laboratory seeks to understand how deregulation of epigenetic modifiers can potentially govern all hallmarks of cancer. Using cutting edge techniques such as CRISPR, high throughput drug screening and mouse models, we seek to identify new gene targets for potential treatments.
About the Tiffen Laboratory
The Tiffen Laboratory works to functionally characterise epigenetic regulators such as those that modify histones and understand how they may drive cancer progression, immune evasion and response to therapy.
We are especially interested in epigenetic genes located on the X and Y chromosomes and how these lead to sex based differences in cancer survival outcomes.
Using melanoma as a model, we have developed an extensive pre-clinical pipeline of highly annotated biospecimens including human cell lines and mouse models. This allows us to study tumour growth, metastases and resistance to treatment observed in the clinic.
Centre for Cancer Innovations
- Melanoma
- Cancer
- Epigenetics
- Targeted therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Sex differences
- Epigenetic techniques (ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq, DNA methylation)
- CRISPR gene editing
- 2D and 3D cell growth assays
- Mouse models of cancer
X and Y Differences in Melanoma Survival Between the Sexes
BET inhibition sensitizes innate checkpoint inhibitor resistant melanoma to anti-CTLA-4 treatment
A Combination of Epigenetic BET and CDK9 Inhibitors for Treatment of Human Melanoma
Co-targeting bromodomain and extra-terminal proteins and MCL1 induces synergistic cell death in melanoma
POT1 loss-of-function variants predispose to familial melanoma
People
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Dr Jessamy Tiffen
Head of Centre for Cancer Innovations -
Dr Cindy Hsin-Yi Tseng
Postdoc Research Officer -
Dr Sara Alavi
Postdoc Research Officer -
Dr Laura Nicholls
Masters by Research Student
Student Opportunities
Postdoctoral and postgraduate students can work alongside world-leading medical researchers, with state-of-the-art facilities, in direct collaboration with the University of Sydney, UTS and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
To learn more about student opportunities in the Tiffen Laboratory and for all general enquiries relating to our work, please contact Dr. Jessamy Tiffen.