Dr. David Rodenhiser, Basic Science

Dr. Rodenhiser received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Acadia University in 1978 and later a Masters from Acadia in 1980. He then studied in Dr. Burr Atkinson’s laboratory at The University of Western Ontario where he completed his PhD in 1986. He also trained as a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Leon Browder’s laboratory at the University of Calgary for two years, where he was an Alberta Heritage Foundation Research Fellow.

Dr. Rodenhiser started his career as a Scientist at the CHRI in 1988 and became an Assistant Professor in the Department of Paediatrics in 1990. He has been a Scientist at the London Regional Cancer Program and an Associate Professor at Western since 1999. He has served as a reviewer for a number of international research journals and has been a member of both national and international grant review boards. He publishes in the areas of molecular genetics, developmental biology and cancer research. His 4th year course (Molecular Genetics of Human Cancer) has received high course evaluations in the Department of Biochemistry since its inception. Dr. Rodenhiser has also presented research lectures at a variety of scientific meetings and has been a frequent speaker to the general public and patient support groups in the area of paediatric diseases, genetics and breast cancer.

Research Interests

• Environmental exposures, DNA methylation and breast cancer
• DNA methylation and Transcriptional regulation of BRCA1
• Epigenetic contributions in models of metastasis
• Transcriptional regulation of targeting of NF1 gene expression

Research Activities

Dr. Rodenhiser has led an active research program in the area of human genetics and cancer related to the role of DNA methylation in the processes of gene expression, mutagenesis and tumourigenesis. His research has focused on the cellular roles for DNA methylation on the molecular genetics of the NF1 (neurofibromatosis) and BRCA1 (Breast cancer susceptibility) tumour suppressor genes. Errors in DNA methylation patterns are known to alter gene expression, causing aberrant developmental programs and leading to inappropriate gene expression in somatic tissues. Both of these genes act as tumour suppressor genes and each has a specific housekeeping role in regulating cellular growth, proliferation and DNA repair. Dr. Rodenhiser’s research has provided the first evidence of a role for DNA methylation in transcriptional activation in both neurofibromatosis and in breast cancer. Recent work from his lab focuses on the structure and function of the promoter of the breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA1), and the link between environmental carcinogens, DNA methylation and cancer. As well, his research involves the gene responsible for the genetic disorder neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). His research has evolved from the important task of defining the location and extent of methylation in a variety of cancer-related genes, to now understanding the functional and site-specific consequences of aberrant methylation on gene expression and the primary molecular events that cause these alterations to occur.

 

http://publish.uwo.ca/~drodenhi

University of Western Ontario, Department of Paediatrics
800 Commissioners Road East, Rm E6-103
London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5W9
Tel: (519) 685-8129  Fax: (519) 685-8156