Dr Colin Watts

Interests

Lab-based research is focused on the genomics of glioblastoma (GBM) and in the role of glial progenitors in their evolution and development. We are also interested in developing patient-specific models of GBM to evaluate intra-tumour variability in genomic and clonal architecture. We have established protocols to generate tumour cell lines from individual patients with high efficiency and used them to evaluate tumour growth, treatment response and the emergence of disease resistance using in-vitro and in-vivo models.

In the operating room we have developed FGMS (Fluorescence-Guided Multiple Sampling) as a unique means of interrogating GBM in real time during surgery. We have coupled this with integrated genomic analysis to establish high-resolution molecular genetic characterisation of GBM, enable phylogenetic reconstruction and define clonal organisation of tumours at the level of the individual patient. see also http://www.cancer.cam.ac.uk/directory/profile.php?cw209

Neurons, astrocytes and oligodedrocytes from adult stem cells
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Research Focus

Equipment

Cell culture

Cell transplantation & experimental neurosurgery

Confocal microscopy

Fluorescence microscopy

Gene profiling

Immunohistochemistry

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Microscopy

PCR