Jan Dumanski – Molecular oncology

We aim to understand the fundamental principles underlying the occurrence of post-zygotic mutations (somatic mosaicism) and their impact on human health. In particular, we are focused on the loss of chromosome Y (LOY), a phenomenon that arises mainly in the white blood cells of elderly men. We work with translational disease-related projects and with questions addressing the consequences of somatic variation in normal human cells. With an emphasis on structural genetic variation, which is known as a dominating type of human inter-individual variation.

Our specific projects are:

Mosaic loss of chromosome Y (LOY) in blood cells is associated with more severe COVID-19, as well as higher mortality, risk for cancer and Alzheimer’s disease in men.
Post-zygotic genetic variation: studies of human aging/longevity and age-associated aberrations
Novel bio-markers for breast cancer; disease prediction and progression