David Michael

research interests

Transposable elements (TEs) make up nearly half of the human genome and play a crucial role in regulating gene expression through various mechanisms, including the production of non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs (circRNAs). TE-derived RNAs can function as regulatory molecules, influencing the expression of nearby genes (cis-regulation) or genes on different chromosomes (trans-regulation). Despite their prevalence and regulatory potential, the role of TE-derived RNAs and circRNAs in colorectal cancer remains poorly understood, and the precise mechanisms of their action are unclear. My project investigates how these molecules regulate gene expression in colorectal cancer. By elucidating these mechanisms, we may uncover novel regulatory pathways that could offer new therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.

background

I studied Biochemistry (BSc) at the University of Benin, Nigeria, and completed my masters in Human Molecular Genetics (MSc) at Imperial College London. At Imperial, I worked with the Cebola lab to validate a non-coding susceptibility variant for type 2 diabetes, and then moved to join the Murrell's lab at the University of Bath as a Research Assistant (RA). There, I investigated the crosstalk between a lncRNA and a tumour suppressor imprinted gene to further develop therapeutic strategies to curb tumorigenesis and metastasis. Following this role, I moved to join the Berrens lab at the University of Oxford as an RA, where I successfully optimised a CRISPRi system (iCRUSH) to specifically knock down individual locus-specific transposable elements to understand the role they play in cell fate decisions using mouse embryonic stem cells.