CRESCO: Centre for Embryology and Healthy Development

CRESCO is a team of researchers that combine complementary expertise on epigenetic and epitranscriptomic modifications, DNA repair and genome (in)stability, single-cell and single-nucleotide analysis, embryology and healthy development.
Visit homepage: https://www.cresco.uio.no/english/

Genome instability in ageing and disease

Hilde L. NilsenGroup leader
Hilde L. Nilsen
Group leader

We study how DNA repair and genome stability maintain healthy cells and animals throughout their natural lifespan.

DNA repair enzymes have a unique ability to recognize rare chemical modifications in DNA and RNA. Some of these modifications are regulatory marks, others are damaged bases. We study how DNA repair proteins distinguish between the two and how modifications in RNA and DNA affect cells and animals throughout their lifespan.

Main themes

  • Genome stability in healthy aging
  • Genome instability as a driver of tumorigenesis and as a determinant of cancer therapy response
  • Genome instability in neurodegenerative diseases
  • DNA repair dependent chromatin dynamics as a basis of gene regulation during development and aging