The London Research Institute research groups are based at Lincoln’s Inn Fields and Clare Hall. Our major research themes are: the biology of tumours and tissues, cellular regulatory mechanisms and genomic integrity and cell cycle.
Clive Dickson : Viral Carcinogenesis
The Viral Carcinogenesis Laboratory headed by Clive Dickson focused its efforts understanding the role of fibroblast growth factors in intercellular signalling, a process that forms an essential part of organogenesis.
In particular, a detailed analysis of the involvement of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 in the development of several organs including the skin, genitalia and the stomach was undertaken. Fgf receptor genes encode different spliced isoforms that show different Fgf binding specificity. The receptors are expressed in a cell lineage specific manner in a given tissue, a process that allows for directional signalling between different cell types such as mesenchyme and epithelium. Hence Fgfs expressed in the mesenchyme may signal to Fgf receptors on the surface of epithelial cells and vice versa.
Significant LRI Papers
- Reynolds LE, Conti FJ, Lucas M, Grose R, Robinson S, Stone M, Saunders G, Dickson C, Hynes RO, Lacy-Hulbert A, Hodivala-Dilke K. Accelarated re-epithelialization in beta3-integrin-deficiant mice is associated with enhanced TGF-Beta1 signaling. Nature Medicine. 2005;11:167-186 (Abstract)
- Rice R, Spencer-Dene B, Connor EC, Gritli-Linde A, McMahon AP, Dickson C, Thesleff I, Rice DPC. Disruption of Fg10/Fgfr2b-coordinated epithelial-mesenchymal interactions causes cleft palate. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2004;113:1692-1700 (Abstract)
- Young P, Boussadia O, Halfter H, Grose R, Berger P, Leone DP, Robnek H, Charnay P, Kelmer R, Suter U. E-cadherin controls adherens junctions in the epidermis and the renewal of hair follicles. EMBO Journal. 2003;22:5723-5733 (Abstract)
- Petiot A, Conti FJA, Grose R, Revest J-M, Hodivala-Dilke KM, Dickson C. A crucial role for Fgfr2-IIIb signalling in epidermal development and hair follicle patterning. Development. 2003;130:5493-5501 (Abstract)
- Walshe J, Marron H, McGonnell IM, Dickson C, Werner S. Establishment of hindbrain segmental identity requires signalling by FGF3 and FGF8. Current Biology 2002;12:1117-1123 (Abstract)
Clive Dickson