Supervisor:
Co-supervisor:
Dr. Touati Benoukraf
Program of Study:
Postdoctoral Fellow, Biomedical Sciences (Genetics)
Project Title:
Understanding the genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic, and microbiome landscape of colorectal cancer
Research Summary:
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers affecting Canadians. The highest number of cases and death rates from this cancer are reported in the Atlantic provinces, particularly NL. The effect of Colorectal cancer on patients, populations, and healthcare systems emphasize the importance of effective control of this disease. Among the ways to improve the disease control efforts are to better understand this disease at the molecular level and to identify the biomarkers of disease characteristics, disease progression, and treatment response in patients. Our main purpose is to help improve the health outcomes of CRC patients by identifying new diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic biomarkers through examination and integration of multi-dimensional high-quality and large-scale molecular data. Although several national and international studies already characterized numerous genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic, and microbiomic markers or aberrations, integrating these dimensions in order to study their interplay remains an open question. Here, we have the opportunity to study these interplays in familial and sporadic colorectal cancers. We propose to accomplish these multi- omics profiling by large-scale examination of genomic, transcriptomic and epigenomic aberrations in patient and colorectal tumor biospecimens, and combining this information with the bacterial present around the cancer tissues. To do so, in the first two years we will establish local protocols and procedures for efficient whole exome, genome, methylome, and transcriptome sequencing and data processing (e.g. variant call, gene expression quantification), and also develop an experimental and computational ways of identifying the colon bacteria from colorectal tissue and feces.
Scholarships and/or Awards:
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- Janeway Foundation’s Research Awards 2022
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- MITACS Elevate Postdoctoral Fellow Awards 2021
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- Universiti Putra Malaysia Graduate Research Grant 2016
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- National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) Honour’s Award (Kebbi State, Nigeria) 2006
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- Federal Government of Nigeria Undergraduate Scholarship Award 2003
Career Aspirations:
My career aspiration is to contribute to the development of innovative, personalized cancer therapies that can improve the lives of patients. I aim to combine expertise in genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomic, microbiomic and metabolomic to comprehensively understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms of colorectal cancer and to identify new therapeutic targets.
In my role, I aspire to use advanced computational and bioinformatics tools to analyze large datasets of multi-omics data to identify disease-causing genetic mutations, altered gene expression, protein modifications, and metabolic pathways. I aim to collaborate with clinical researchers to validate these findings in patient samples and to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies that can improve cancer outcomes.
Furthermore, I aspire to be an advocate for the integration of multi-omics approaches in cancer research and clinical care, and to promote public understanding of the benefits and challenges of precision medicine. I aim to be an active member of the scientific community, participating in national and international conferences, publishing my work in high-impact scientific journals, and contributing to the development of new methods and approaches that can accelerate the translation of multi-omics data into clinical practice.
Location:
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Publications:
Alafiatayo, A.A., Ahmad, S., Song, L.K., Maziah, M., Shaharuddin, N.A, (2019). “RNA-Seq analysis revealed genes associated with UV-induced cells necrosis through MAPK/TNF-α pathways in human dermal fibroblast cells as an inducer of premature photoaging”. Genomics.Vol.112 (1), 2020:484 – 493.
Alafiatayo, A.A., Song, L.K., Ahmad, S., Maziah, M., Shaharuddin, N.A, (2019). “Phytochemical evaluation, Embryotoxicity and Teratogenic effects of Curcuma longa extract on zebrafish (Danio rerio).” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/3807207
Alafiatayo, A.A., Ahmad, S., Maziah, M. Assessment of Total Phenolic Compounds and In vitro free radical scavenging potentials of water extracts for ten selected species of Zingiberaceae rhizomes use in Folkloric Medicine. Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. (Vol.29, No. 3, 2016)
Alafiatayo, A.A., Ahmad, S., Maziah, M. Total Antioxidant Capacity, Total Phenolic Compounds and the Effects of Solvent Concentration on Flavonoids Content in Curcuma longa and Curcuma xanthorrhiza Rhizomes. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. (Vol.3:2, 2014)
Alafiatayo, A.A., Ahmad, S., Maziah, M. Total Antioxidant Capacity, Flavonoids, Phenolic acids and Polyphenol Content in Ten Selected species of Zingiberaceae Rhizomes. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Vol. 11, No. 3, 2014: 7-13).
Alafiatayo A.A., Atawodi S.E., Assessment of the Phytochemical and Antitrypanosomal properties of some extracts of leaves, stem and root bark of landolphia sp., P. Beaux. Journal of Ethnopharmacology (Vol. 114, 2007: 207-211).