Professor Andrejs Braun
Director of Education
Overview
Our group studies how epigenetic regulation and genome organisation control the biology of normal and malignant B cells. Our research focuses on the interplay between chromatin structure, nuclear architecture and gene regulation, and how these processes influence somatic mutagenesis and genome stability during B-cell development and immune responses. We are particularly interested in how disruption of these mechanisms contributes to the initiation and progression of B-cell malignancies.
Team
Dr Marta Crespi-Sallan
Postdoctoral Researcher
Dr Joel McCay
PhD Student
Dr Jinxia Zheng
Postdoctoral Researcher
Research
Our group studies how epigenetic regulation and genome organisation control the biology of normal and malignant B cells. Our research focuses on the interplay between chromatin structure, nuclear architecture and gene regulation, and how these processes influence somatic mutagenesis and genome stability during B-cell development and immune responses. We are particularly interested in how disruption of these mechanisms contributes to the initiation and progression of B-cell malignancies.
A core aspect of our work is the analysis of nuclear envelope function and lamina-associated chromatin domains in B cells. We investigate how changes in chromatin organisation and nuclear structure affect transcriptional programmes, mutation landscapes and cellular identity, with a focus on germinal centre B cells and adaptive immunity. By combining genomics, epigenomics and functional approaches, we examine how epigenetic and structural features of the genome shape B-cell behaviour in both physiological and pathological contexts.
Our research integrates epigenetics with functional pathology to understand how molecular and structural alterations translate into disease phenotypes. We analyse how epigenetic dysregulation and changes in nuclear architecture contribute to functional abnormalities in B cells and to the development of leukaemia and lymphoma. This work aims to define mechanistic links between genome organisation and disease, and to identify potential therapeutic targets in B-cell malignancies.
Key Publications
Autophagy is an upstream mediator of chromatin dynamics in normal and autoimmune germinal centre B cells. J Clin Invest (2025) May 15;135(13):e178920. PMID: 40397664
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
See recent publicationsMajor Funding
Our research is supported by a range of national and international funding bodies and charitable organisations, including Cancer Research UK, Blood Cancer UK, the Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund, and the Barry Reed Cancer Trust.
Other Activities
- Director of Education and MSc Programme Director, Barts Cancer Institute
- BCI Executive Board
- Chair, BCI Student Voice Committee
- Chair, BCI Education Committee
- BCI MSc Exam Board
- Phase 1 Lead, Queen Mary International Clinical Academy (QMICA)
- MBBS Y1 Principal Internal Examiner
- MBBS Y1 Deputy Exam Board Chair
- MBBS Academic Advisor
- MBBS Senior Clinical Tutor
- Chair, QMUL Academic Misconduct Panel
- QMUL Code of Student Discipline Panel
- Nanchang JP Teaching and Learning Committee
- Peer-Led Teaching and Learning Advisory Group
- Module lead: CANM903 (Cancer Pharmacology), CANM952 (Cancer Diagnosis and Therapeutics), CANM936 (Dissertation), SNU306 (Cancer Biology – QMUL/Nanchang University Joint Programme)
Biography
Present Appointment
- Professor of Genome Regulation, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London John Vane Science Centre August 2023 – Present
- Honorary Specialty Doctor. Histopathology. Royal London Hospital. Barts Health NHS Trust.
Past Appointments – Academic
- Reader, Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London (August 2020 – August 2023)
- Senior Lecturer, Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London (August 2017 – August 2020)
- Lecturer, Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London (October 2013 – August 2017)
- Postdoctoral Research Associate, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, University of Glasgow, UK (April 2009 – September 2013).
- Cancer Research UK PhD Studentship, June 2004 – September 2008: Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Related News
Cells’ recycling system plays a surprising role in shaping immune cells DNA
Researchers have discovered a new mechanism by which B cells – antibody-producing immune cells – use a cellular recycling process called autophagy to control changes to their DNA essential for antibody improvement. The findings could have future implications for the development of certain blood cancers and autoimmune diseases.
General News 2 July 2025
Tackling blood cancer with Blood Cancer UK
This Blood Cancer Awareness Month, find out about the Blood Cancer UK-funded research projects currently underway at the Barts Cancer Institute, which span from looking at the specific genetic changes that drive blood cancer development, to identifying new treatment strategies to improve the outcomes for patients.
General News 10 September 2021