Professor Claus Nerlov

Institute for Stem Cell Research
University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh

Stem cells and faulty genes at the heart of cancer

Professor Claus Nerlov is an expert in stem cells – the ‘immortal’ cells that produce all the different tissues of the body. There is an increasing amount of evidence to show that rogue stem cells may lie at the heart of many different types of cancer, including leukaemia. Professor Nerlov and his team are searching for the faulty genes that drive the growth of leukaemia stem cells, and developing drugs to target them.

Focus on a faulty gene

As well as studying leukaemia stem cells, Professor Nerlov is investigating a gene called cyclin D1 that is faulty in a number of different cancers. This gene plays an important role in helping healthy cells to grow. But a faulty version of cyclin D1 drives cancer cells to grow out of control.

The researchers are teasing out the complex properties of cyclin D1, focusing on some of the other genes it interacts with in cancer cells. They hope to shed new light on the fundamental biological processes that fuel the growth of cancer cells, and ultimately develop more effective treatments.