OPTIMISATION AND THERAPEUTIC-TARGET-DISCOVERY ORIENTED ANALYSIS OF CRISPR-CAS9 SCREENS

The emergence of CRISPR-Cas9 technology has revolutionized cancer research by enabling targeted genome modifications in tumour cells, offering insights into cancer biology and potential treatment targets. My PhD research focuses on developing tailored tools and pipelines to enhance the analysis of CRISPR-Cas9 screens for identifying cancer therapeutic targets. CRISPR-Cas9 screens are vital in cancer research, allowing precise gene knockout and unveiling genes critical for cancer cell survival. However, challenges persist in experimental setup optimization and data analysis. My work addresses these challenges by optimizing CRISPR-Cas9 screens and developing advanced analysis tools. Key challenges include addressing biases from copy number alterations and distinguishing between core-fitness and context-specific fitness genes. Identifying context-specific genes is crucial for personalized cancer treatments. Additionally, cancer dependency datasets derived from CRISPR-Cas9 screens on large cell line panels offer valuable insights into cancer vulnerabilities, guiding cancer and fundamental biology research. In conclusion, optimised methods and analytical tools for CRISPR-Cas9 screens are pivotal in cancer research. My research aims to overcome challenges in experimental setup and data analysis, facilitating the identification and validation of novel therapeutic targets. These tools not only enhance screen accuracy but also provide valuable resources for the scientific community, advancing cancer treatment and fundamental biological understanding.