Brunel University
Dr Sabrina Tosi graduated in Biological Sciences at the University of Milan, Italy in 1989 and then attained her post-graduate degree in Human Cytogenetics at the University of Pavia, Italy in 1992.
Between 1989 and 1993 she was a research scientist at the Department of Paediatric Haematology, University of Milan, during this time she worked also as a visiting research scientist at Oncogenetic Laboratory, Children’s Hospital, University of Giessen, Germany for a year.
In 1994, Dr Tosi transferred to the University of Oxford to work as a research scientist, she then enrolled and completed her DPhil studies in 1999. She continued to work at the University of Oxford until July 2005, when she was appointed as Lecturer in Biosciences at Brunel University London where Dr Sabrina Tosi is the Head of the Leukaemia and Chromosome Research Laboratory.
“The ultimate goal of cancer research is to reach and bring benefits to the patients, however the development of a research model for this infant leukaemia is just the first step in truly understanding it. We must ensure that our model faithfully reflects what we see in patients, so that we can study in depth this cancer’s behaviour. After we know our enemy, we can identify its weak spots and possible treatments.”
Research Interests
Her research focuses on the contribution of chromosomal abnormalities to leukaemia. Dr Tosi has a particular interest towards the study of childhood leukaemia. This interest dates back to 1989, when she started her scientific career soon after her undergraduate studies.
The main methodological approach used in the laboratory involves the application of modern molecular cytogenetic techniques to unravel the genetic changes at the basis of leukaemic transformation. The projects currently ongoing in the lab are based on the use of fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH), immunofluorescence and microscopy. These methods have enabled the characterisation of new non-random chromosomal translocations specifically associated with certain leukaemia subtypes. Dr Tosi’s research interests extend to view chromosomal alterations in context with the higher order chromatin organisation and expression patterns.
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