Stefania Astrologo MSc
Early Stage Researcher 1
Name: Stefania Astrologo
Gender: Female
Country of Birth: Italy
MSc in: Molecular biology and genetics (The University of Pavia, Italy)
Marie Skłodowska Curie PhD Fellowship in Synthetic Systems Biology, at University of Amsterdam (UvA), the Netherlands, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS), in the Synthetic Systems Biology and Nuclear Organization research groups of Prof. Westerhoff.
Project title: “Computational modeling to elucidate (epi)genetic mechanisms of treatment resistance”
Supervisors: PIs: Prof. Westerhoff (SILS, UvA), Dr Verschure (SILS, UvA), co-supervisor: Dr Matteo Barberis (SILS, UvA); EpiPredict co-PI: Dr Jirstrand (FCC)
PhD programme: Swammerdam Inst. for Life Sciences SILS, UvA (www.sils.uva.nl); Netherlands Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Research School (www.biosb.nl)
Key Objectives & Expected Results
Objectives:
- To build, refine and test mathematical model family based on existing and EpiPredict gained data to elucidate/simulate epigenetic resistance for five relevant pathways
- To perform model driven hypothesis generation predicting epigenetic interference experiments
- To determine signatures to stratify patients on treatment (resistance) outcome
- To convert model predictions into an epigenetic diagnostic signature
Expected Results:
- A mathematical model to integrate various data types to predict (i) likelihood to develop resistance, (ii) Tamoxifen treatment outcome based on individual patients’ epigenome
- Diagnostic/prognostic epigenetic biomarkers of Tamoxifen resistance: Targets for (epigenetic) drugs counteracting Tamoxifen resistance.
Host training:
Model hypothesis generation, model parameter estimation, Kinetic modelling/data integration
Planned secondment(s):
FCC: modelling support (M10-11), ICL: Epigenetic profiles/patient diagnosis (M9), UNIMIB: Metabolomics, mass spectrometry (M17-19)
- Refined/extended knowledge of Tamoxifen resistance pathway/mechanisms
