Dr Nezha Benabdallah
Group Leader - Chancellor's Fellow
- Edinburgh Cancer Research
- MRC Human Genetics Unit
- Institute of Genetics and Cancer
Contact details
- Email: nezha.benabdallah@ed.ac.uk
Address
- Street
-
Institute of Genetics and Cancer
The University of Edinburgh
Western General Hospital
Crewe Road South - City
- Edinburgh
- Post code
- EH4 2XU
Background
Dr Nezha Benabdallah is a researcher in cancer biology, specialising in fusion-driven sarcomas. She currently holds a Chancellor's Fellowship at the Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, where she leads a research group dedicated to advancing the understanding of epigenetic cancer initiation and developing potential therapeutic strategies. Her research is supported by the IGC Langmuir Talent Fellowship.
Before establishing her group at the Institute of Genetics and Cancer, Dr Benabdallah worked at the German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ) in Heidelberg as a postdoctoral fellow, studying the molecular mechanisms of synovial sarcoma. In recognition of her work, she received the "Young Talent Award of the National Decade Against Cancer" in Germany in 2024.
Dr Benabdallah's academic journey began with an Engineering Degree from AgroParisTech, followed by a Master's in Genetics in Paris, which fuelled her interest in the molecular mechanisms of gene regulation. She completed her PhD at the MRC Human Genetics Unit, focusing on enhancer-mediated gene regulation and chromatin biology.
Qualifications
2017 PhD in Genetics & Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, UK.
2013 European Master of Genetics, University Paris VII Denis Diderot, France.
2013 Masters of Engineering, AgroParisTech, France.
Research summary
Fusion-driven sarcomas are devastating cancers that primarily affect young individuals. These malignancies are driven by the creation of tumour-specific proteins, known as oncofusions, which alter gene expression profiles through chromatin dysregulation. Our research aims to dissect the function of these oncofusions, which act as chimeric transcription factors, to advance our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of sarcomas, provide new avenues for therapeutic development, and enhance our knowledge of epigenetic cancer initiation.
Moreover, many of the key fusion proteins contain poorly characterised chromatin regulators. By investigating these 'blind spots', our research will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the human proteome.
Our research aims to significantly impact sarcoma biology as well as enhance our understanding of gene regulation and chromatin dynamics in both normal and pathological contexts.