Hello and welcome!

In October, 2016, I joined the University of Warwick in order to integrate a 4 year doctoral training partnership in Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research. I am currently on the third year of the programe and second year of PhD where I joined the lab of Dr Andrew Bowman. I am interested in using synthetic biology methods and advanced microscopy to determine the 3Dimensional topology of replication foci in human cells.

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2017- University of Warwick, PhD in Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research MRC-DTP

Probing the 4D genome.

3D genome organization has predominantly been studied by next generation sequencing methodologies, with conclusions often being made from population averages rather than single cells, or by fixed cell imagining techniques such as FISH. Live- cell imaging techniques have been used to probe the kinetics of chromatin structures, however, these have been mostly limited to one or two foci, integrated repetitive arrays, or have involved indiscriminate labelling of bulk chromatin. As the domain structure of the genome is mirrored by its replication timing, we have been able to use a recently developed technique (RAPID- release) where a short pulse of eGFP-tagged histones during S-phase is incorporated into distinct chromatin domains. As eGFP labeled H3.1 and H4 turnover very slowly in human chromatin, and as tagged histone are relatively inert compared with fluorescent nucleotides, they have the potential to be used as location markers for extended periods. We are capitalising on this unique labelling ability to investigate the behaviour of chromatin domains in living cells across different time-scales. This is achieved by tracking their positions, either in absolute terms, or relative to nuclear markers (such as the nuclear lamina), using spinning-disk, confocal, live-cell imaging, and lattice light-sheet microscopy. On longer time scales, we are interested in using this approach to visualise chromatin domain reorganisation during the G2-M-G1 transition. In particular, I would like to investigate whether replication foci are comprised of multiple genomic loci or just a single genomic locus by tracking the segregation of replication foci into condensed, contour-traceable chromosomes during early prophase.

2016-2017 University of Warwick, MSc in Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research MRC-DTP with Dictinction

Biodegradable and biocompatible implants for drug delivery applications (Project supervisor: Professor Andrew Dove, Department of Chemistry).

Ultra-rapid pulse-labelling for observation of nuclear dynamics in living cells (Project supervisor: Dr Andrew Bowman, WMS).

2015-2016 Lancaster University, MSc in Biomedicine with Merit

Assessing brain and dopamine system dysfunction in a preclinical rodent model relevant to schizophrenia (Project supervisor: Dr Neil Dawson).

Students representative in the Faculty of Health and Medicine division of Biomedical and Life Sciences.

2012-2015 Lancaster University, BSc Hons Biochemistry with Genetics, First Class

Neuroscience: “Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Memory Formation” (Project supervisor: Dr Susan Broughton);

Genetics: “Gene Expression in Caco-2 Cells” (Project Supervisor: Dr Alan Shirras).

Filipe Fernandes Duarte

f.fernandes-duarte@warwick.ac.uk