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Ros John

Yr Athro Ros John

Cyfarwyddwr Ymchwil, Athro

Ysgol y Biowyddorau

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Trosolwg ymchwil

Mae fy ymchwil yn ceisio mynd i'r afael ag un o'r cwestiynau mwyaf heriol a sylfaenol bwysig ym maes iechyd pobl, sef sut i fanteisio i'r eithaf ar y siawns o feichiogrwydd iach a llwyddiannus. Mae gofal sy'n gysylltiedig â beichiogrwydd yn costio tua £5.8 biliwn y flwyddyn i'r GIG, ond dim ond 2.4% o'r holl gyllid ymchwil iechyd uniongyrchol, nad yw'n ddiwydiant sy'n cael ei wario ar ymchwil sy'n gysylltiedig â beichiogrwydd (adroddiad RAND, 2020). Mae hyn yn nodi mai ymchwil beichiogrwydd yw un o'r meysydd ymchwil sydd wedi'u tanariannu fwyaf yn y DU. Ac eto, dyma lle mae iechyd pobl yn dechrau a lle gallwn wneud y newidiadau mwyaf effeithiol i wella iechyd nid yn unig y fam ond hefyd ar gyfer cenedlaethau'r dyfodol. Mae fy ngrwpiau ymchwil yn defnyddio data carfan ddynol (The Grown in Wales Study) a systemau arbrofol i archwilio sut mae adfyd cynenedigol, yr amcangyfrifir ei fod yn effeithio ar fwy na hanner holl feichiogrwydd y DU, yn peryglu twf ffetws ac iechyd meddwl mamol, ac yn rhaglennu rhai o'r clefydau mwyaf cyffredin a threiddiol sy'n effeithio ar boblogaethau dynol.

Rolau

  • Cyfarwyddwr Ymchwil
  • Arweinydd Tîm Academaidd

Cyhoeddiad

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Ymchwil

Summary

The principal interest of my laboratory lies in understanding how epigenetic marks direct mammalian development with a particular focus on in utero processes, and how exposure during critically sensitive windows in development can alter outcomes for both mother and child.

Genomic Imprinting

Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic system, first initiated in the germ line, that directs the allele-specific expression of a small set of developmentally important genes (Figure 1). Imprinted genes function within a myriad of networks to regulate fetal growth, placental development, metabolism and behaviour. The aberrant expression of imprinted genes has been reported in relation to low birth weight, placental dysfunction, metabolic and psychiatric diseases. A goal of our research is to further understand the dosage-related function of imprinted genes in development and disease. We are also investigating factors and lifestyles which may influence the expression of imprinted genes early in life resulting in pregnancy complications, mood disorders and poorer behavioural outcomes for children both in the short term and across the life course.

The placenta

We have demonstrated that certain imprinted genes regulate the size of the endocrine compartment of the placenta and consequently modulate the production of placental hormones (Figure 2). During pregnancy placental hormones flood the maternal circulation to induce the physiological changes required for a successful pregnancy. Placental hormones ensure nutrient availability to ensure appropriate fetal growth. Placental hormones also prime the maternal brain in preparation for mothering the newborn infant. Funded by BBSRC, we are using unique experimental models based on the genetically modified expression of imprinted genes to experimentally show that imprinted genes influence fetal growth and maternal caregiving through the regulation of placental endocrine lineages (Figure 3).

Environmental programming

Imprinted genes are regulated by epigenetic marks that can respond to environmental factors. In addition to exploring the consequences of aberrant imprinted gene expression, funded by BBSRC we are investigating whether specific maternal diets or conditions can influence gene expression in the placenta causing placental endocrine dysfunction (Figure 4) and in the fetus directly influencing development, both of which may be linked to the poorer outcomes for children.

Lifelong health

It is well known that prenatal adversity is associated with poorer outcomes for children including behavioural difficulties and metabolic disorders. Funded by BBSRC and Wellcome Trust, we are exploring the consequences of placental endocrine dysfunction on offspring outcomes focusing on offspring behaviour (Figure 4).

Clinical engagement

The imprinted genes we are studying regulate placental development, fetal growth and maternal adaptations to pregnancy via the regulation of placental signalling. The aberrant expression of imprinted genes is common in a number of human disorders of pregnancy including low birth weight, gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. Our recent work suggests that aberrant imprinting may also have relevance to maternal mood disorders programmed by placental dysfunction. Funded by MRC, we initiated “The Grown in Wales” Study (Figure 5) to collect of data and biological samples including placenta from women delivering locally at University Hospital Wales to integrate the knowledge gained from our experimental models with studies on human samples. We are also assessing the development and behaviour of the children from this study in “The Grown in Wales Infant Study” funded by The Waterloo Foundation. Our work will promote the optimal interpretation of clinical data with a longer-term goal of improving diagnostic performance and the identification of possible therapeutic targets for treatment.

Clinical study

“The Grown in Wales Study: Developing and placentomic tool for characterising atypical pregnancies and predicting outcomes.”

REC reference number 15/WA/0004; IRAS project ID 166243; UKCRN ID 18894

Current grant support

Active grants as lead applicant

BBSRC (2017-21) Exposing the link between placental endocrine dysfunction and offspring behavioural outcomes.

TWF “Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in pregnancy: Are infant outcomes associated with BDNF levels in the maternal and foetal circulation” (2021; £21K)

Wellcome Trust Neuroscience DTG “Placental Peg3 expression and Social Communication Behaviour” (2018-2021)

BBSRC “Prenatal adversity and the intergenerational transmission of atypical maternal caregiving” (2021-24; FEC £705,275)

Active grants as co-applicant

BBSRC (2017-20) Lipid droplets in oocytes: shedding new light on why fats are good or bad for development.

Wellcome Trust Neuroscience DTG “A system level approach to identify and validate imprinted genes involved in parental care” (2019-2022)

External Collaborators

Amanda Fisher (MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Imperial College, London)

Takahiro Arima (Tokoyu University, Japan)

Jay Cross (Calgary University, Canada)

Meeting organization

Annual Mammalian Genes, Development and Disease meeting (funded by The Genetics Society)

(Rotates between Cardiff, Bath, Bristol and Exeter)

Affiliated staff 

Bridget Allen

Raquel Boque Sastre

Harri Harrison

Alice Chibnall

Hayley Dingsdale

Postgraduate research students

As principle supervisor

Samantha Garay (MRC Biomed DTP PhD)

Hannah Tyson (Wellcome Trust Neuroscience DTP PhD)

As second supervisor

Matt Higgs (Wellcome Trust Neuroscience DTP PhD)

Cindy Ikie (BIOSI PhD)


Links

http://safemotherhoodweek.org/maternal-rights-a-professional-perspective/

Addysgu

BI2332 Concepts of Disease: Epigenetics and Underlying Principles

BI3351 Contemporary Topics in Disease: Mouse models of imprinting

BI3001 Biosciences Final Year Project.

BIT002 MRes Research Techniques in Bioscience: Research seminar

Bywgraffiad

Mae Rosalind M John yn Athro Epigenetig Datblygiadol ac yn Gyfarwyddwr Ymchwil ar gyfer Ysgol y Biowyddorau ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd. Derbyniodd ei PhD o Goleg Imperial, Prifysgol Llundain a hyfforddodd ym Mhrifysgol San Francisco California (UCSF) a Stanford, UDA, a Phrifysgol Caergrawnt. Mae ganddi hanes o >20 mlynedd yn epigeneteg datblygiad ffetws a brych gan ddefnyddio modelau anifeiliaid i astudio perthnasedd mewnbrintio genomig, a sut y gall ffactorau amgylcheddol gyfryngu canlyniadau ffenoteipig byr a gydol oes. Mae hi'n arbenigwr ar gynhyrchu llygod trawsgenig BAC (Phlda2, Cdkn1c ac Ascl2) a'r defnydd o fodelau colli swyddogaeth (Cdkn1c, Phlda2 a Peg3) i gael mewnwelediad ym mherthnasedd dos genynnau rheoledig. Mae ei grŵp wedi adrodd am ffenoteipiau sy'n effeithio ar dwf ffetws, datblygiad brychol, metaboledd, ymddygiad oedolion ac, yn fwyaf diweddar, ymddygiad mamau mewn ymateb i gamweithrediad endocrin brychol. Sefydlodd yr Athro John yr Astudiaeth Tyfu yng Nghymru a'r astudiaeth babanod Tyfu yng Nghymru i gyfieithu ei chanfyddiadau o fodelau arbrofol i bobl sy'n berthnasol i fabanod pwysau geni isel, anhwylderau hwyliau mamau ac anhwylderau niwroddatblygiadol mewn plant. Ariennir grŵp yr Athro John gan MRC, BBSRC, Wellcome, Sefydliad Waterloo a Llywodraeth Cymru. Mae'r Athro John yn gwasanaethu ar baneli MRC PSMB a UKRI FLF. 

Aelodaethau proffesiynol

  • The Genetics Society;
  • British Society of Developmental Biology;
  • International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease;
  • International Federation Placenta Associations;
  • European Placenta Group;
  • ESRC InteSTELA network;
  • GeCIPs (Genomics England Clinical Interpretation Partnerships) subdomain Imprinting Disorders: Epigenomics, Aetiology and Stratification, or IDEAS);

Pwyllgorau ac adolygu

  • Cymrodoriaethau Arweinydd y Dyfodol UKRI Rownd 7 2023 - 
  • Bwrdd cynghori gwyddonol Rhwydwaith Geneteg Llygoden Cenedlaethol MRC, Cadeirydd (2023- )
  • Bwrdd Meddygaeth Poblogaeth a Systemau MRC 2021 -
  • Panel Chwilio Gwobrau Biolegol y Gymdeithas Frenhinol 2021 -
  • Cymdeithas Geneteg Aelod Pwyllgor Cyffredin 2021 -(Geneteg Celloedd a Datblygiadol)
  • Prif Olygydd Arbenigol ar gyfer Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology: Epigenetics Datblygiadol (2019-2023)
  • Panel Iechyd a Chyd-destun UKRI GCRF (2019-20)
  • Panel Cyfweld Cymrodoriaethau Arweinwyr y Dyfodol UKRI Rownd 2 (2019)
  • Panel Adolygu Arbenigol MRC ar gyfer Gwobrau Cydweithredol NRP y DU (2019).
  • Panel Adolygu Arbenigol BBSRC A (2011-2017)

Meysydd goruchwyliaeth

I am interested in supervising PhD students in the areas of:

  • genomic imprinting
  • developmental epigenetics
  • fetal programming
  • mammalian placental biology
  • maternal behaviour/maternal mood disorders

Contact Details

Email JohnRM@caerdydd.ac.uk
Telephone +44 29208 70145
Campuses Adeilad Syr Martin Evans, Ystafell Cardiff School of Biosciences, The Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, Rhodfa'r Amgueddfa, Caerdydd, CF10 3AX

Arbenigeddau

  • Epigeneteg
  • Bioleg datblygiadol ac atgenhedlu anifeiliaid
  • Agweddau seicogymdeithasol ar enedigaeth ac iechyd meddwl amenedigol
  • Ymddygiad Rhieni
  • Endocrinoleg