Professor Andrejs Braun

PhD, FHEA, FIBMS
Professor of Genome Regulation
Director of Education
Group Leader
Email Staff Directory
Research Focus

Our group is interested in epigenetic regulation of somatic mutagenesis in normal and malignant B cells. Specifically, we aim to understand how alterations in the nuclear envelope influence B cell chromatin conformation, and what the epigenetic consequences of these alterations are.

Key Publications

Lamin B1 regulates somatic mutations and progression of B-cell malignancies. Leukemia (2018) 32(2):364-375. PMID: 28804121

Autophagy mediates degradation of nuclear lamina. Nature (2015) 527(7576):105-9. PMID: 26524528

Lysosome-mediated processing of chromatin in senescence. J Cell Biol (2013) 202(1):129-43. PMID: 23816621

Novel type II anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (GA101) evokes homotypic adhesion and actin-dependent, lysosome-mediated cell death in B-cell malignancies. Blood (2011) 117(17):4519-29. PMID: 21378274

Monoclonal antibodies directed to CD20 and HLA-DR can elicit homotypic adhesion followed by lysosome-mediated cell death in human lymphoma and leukemia cells. J Clin Invest (2009) 119(8):2143-59. PMID: 1962078

Major Funding
  • Blood Cancer UK, Lamin B1-mediated genomic instability in leukaemia and lymphoma, £229,104
  • Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)
  • Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund
Other Activities
  • Director of Education (Postgraduate Taught Programmes), Barts Cancer Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry
  • Deputy Chair of Academic Misconduct Panel, Academic Registry and Council Secretariat, Queen Mary University of London
  • Course Director: MSc Cancer and Therapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry
  • Module lead: Cancer Biology. Nanchang University/Queen Mary Joint Programme
  • Module lead: Targeted Therapies and Immunotherapy of Haematological Malignancies, Barts Cancer Institute MSc courses
Themes/Keywords
Cell Signalling Immunotherapy Blood Leukaemia Lymphoma Centre for Haemato-Oncology
Research

Our group is interested in epigenetic regulation of somatic mutagenesis in normal and malignant B cells. Specifically, we aim to understand how alterations in the nuclear envelope influence B cell chromatin conformation, and what the epigenetic consequences of these alterations are.

At a systemic level, we are interested in how the lamina-associated chromatin domain (LAD) dynamics influence normal adaptive immunity, and whether dysregulation of this mechanism leads to autoimmunity and cancer.

From a translational perspective, we are aiming to develop novel therapeutic strategies to target nuclear lamina, establishing a new generation of treatment modalities of malignant lymphoma.

Other Activities
  • Director of Education (Postgraduate Taught Programmes), Barts Cancer Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry
  • Deputy Chair of Academic Misconduct Panel, Academic Registry and Council Secretariat, Queen Mary University of London
  • Course Director: MSc Cancer and Therapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry
  • Module lead: Cancer Biology. Nanchang University/Queen Mary Joint Programme
  • Module lead: Targeted Therapies and Immunotherapy of Haematological Malignancies, Barts Cancer Institute MSc courses
Major Funding
  • 2019-2022- Blood Cancer UK, Lamin B1-mediated genomic instability in leukaemia and lymphoma, £229,104
  • Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)
  • Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund
  • Barry Reed Cancer Trust
  • “Bolashak” fellowship programme, Republic of Kazakhstan
Recent Publications

Stromal cell inhibition of anti-CD20 antibody mediated killing of B-cell malignancies Fagnano E, Pendharkar S, Colton M et al. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology 11(10) 1270398

A comprehensive method to study the DNA's association with lamin and chromatin compaction in intact cell nuclei at super resolution Chapman KB, Filipsky F, Peschke N et al. Nanoscale (2023) 15(10) 742-756

Multi-platform profiling characterizes molecular subgroups and resistance networks in chronic lymphocytic leukemia Bloehdorn J, Braun A, Taylor-Weiner A et al. Nature Communications (2021) 12(1)

Rituximab and obinutuzumab differentially hijack the B-cell receptor and NOTCH1 signaling pathways. Edelmann J, Dokal AD, Vilventhraraja E et al. iScience (2021) (1) 102089-102089

Multiplatform Profiling Characterizes Functional Networks in Genomically Stable and Instable Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Bloehdorn J, Braun A, Jebaraj BMC et al. Blood (2020) 136(1) 12-13

Anti-CD20 Monoclonal Antibodies Hijack the B-Cell Receptor Signaling Cascade Thereby Activating the NOTCH1 Signaling Pathway Edelmann J, Britton DJ, Vilventhraraja E et al. Blood (2018) 132(1) 588-588

Lamin B1 regulates somatic mutations and progression of B-cell malignancies. Klymenko T, Bloehdorn J, Bahlo J et al. Leukemia 32(1) 364-375
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28804121

NUCLEAR LAMINA REGULATES SOMATIC HYPERMUTATION AND PROGRESSION OF B CELL MALIGNANCIES Klymenko T, Bloehdorn J, Bahlo J et al. HAEMATOLOGICA (2017) 102(1) 228-228
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000404127002077&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=612ae0d773dcbdba3046f6df545e9f6a

ONCOGENE-EXPRESSING SENESCENT MELANOCYTES UPREGULATE MHC CLASS II, A CANDIDATE MELANOMA SUPPRESSOR FUNCTION BRAUNS A Journal of Investigative Dermatology (1)

Rituximab Activates NOTCH1 Signaling in CLL Cells and Induces Changes in the Cytokine Repertoire Favoring a Tumor-Protective Microenvironment Edelmann J, Holzmann K, DiBella D et al. BLOOD (2017) 130(11)
https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000432419700196&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=612ae0d773dcbdba3046f6df545e9f6a

For additional publications, please click here
Team
Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr Marta Crespi-Sallan
 
PhD Students
Gulnara Akylzhanova, Filip Filipsky
Biography
  • Sept 2013 – present Lecturer, Centre for Haemato-Oncology. Barts Cancer Institute. Queen Mary, University of London.
  • Apr 2009 – Sept 2013. Postdoctoral Research Associate. Beatson Institute for Cancer Research. University of Glasgow, Glasgow. UK.
  • Jun 2004 – Sept 2008. Cancer Research UK PhD studentship. Paterson Institute for Cancer Research. University of Manchester.
  • Nov 2002 – Jun 2004. Visiting Research Fellow. Cancer Sciences Division, University of Southampton, Southampton. UK