Position
Research assistant
Contact
raisashabbir[at]alumni.ubc.ca
Project
I have been working on continuing a project focused on the discovery of novel epigenetic biomarkers (DNA methylation) of colorectal cancer. By comparing epigenetic signatures between patients and healthy controls, the ultimate goal is to design a diagnostic test that can accurately predict the disease state of a patient. The results of this project has the potential to improve upon the efficacy of colorectal cancer screening assays that are currently used in clinical settings.
I have also been working on understanding the role of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodelling complex in the context of cancer. I have successfully optimized and implemented the ATAC-seq (Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin using sequencing) for use in the laboratory. We are using this, and other epigenetic techniques, to study the epigenetic modifications in relation to pathology in a number of cancer types, including malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) and ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC).