Dr Vincent Cunliffe

School of Biosciences

Senior Lecturer in Developmental Genetics

Vincent Cunliffe
Profile picture of Vincent Cunliffe
v.t.cunliffe@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 2389

Full contact details

Dr Vincent Cunliffe
School of Biosciences
D18d
Firth Court
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN
Profile
  • 2007 - present: Senior Lecturer
  • 2002 - 2007: Lecturer
  • 1997 - 2002: Lister Institute Research Fellow, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield
  • 1994 - 1997: Group Leader in Molecular and Cell Biology, Therexsys Ltd, Keele, UK
  • 1991 - 1994: Postdoctoral Fellow, Division of Developmental Biology, National Institute for Medical Research, London, UK
  • 1990: Postdoctoral Fellow, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
  • 1986 - 1990: PhD, Imperial Cancer Research Fund and University College, London
  • 1982 - 1986: BSc, University of Edinburgh
Research interests

Our research is focused primarily on understanding the roles of epigenetic mechanisms in the development and function of the zebrafish Central Nervous System (CNS), and how gene-environment interactions impact on these processes. In addition, we are exploiting the practical advantages of the zebrafish as a model organism to investigate the functions of genes implicated in human neurological disorders and cancer.

Integration of synaptic and neuroendocrine signalling and the role of the neural epigenome in health and disease

Epigenetic mechanisms regulate gene expression in response to a wide range of intercellular signals, conferring robustness to developmental processes and ensuring that there is a broad and reliable correspondence between genotype and phenotype. However, it is becoming apparent that epigenetic mechanisms also provide an experience-sensitive interface through which phenotypic plasticity is regulated in response to a wide range of environmental and behavioural signals across the lifecourse, and that these interactions can cause phenotypic changes that may be adaptive or maladaptive.

We aim to understand the roles of the epigenetic machinery, both in conferring developmental robustness and in mediating experience-sensitive phenotypic plasticity, within the zebrafish CNS. A particular focus is on understanding how experience-sensitive changes in synaptic activity and/or neuroendocrine signalling are integrated at the epigenomic level, and how the resulting changes in gene expression affect brain function.

We are collaborating with Dr Nils Krone to elucidate the impacts of altered steroid hormone signaling on zebrafish brain development and function, using novel mutants in which glucocorticoid synthesis and/or signalling is defective. We are also developing zebrafish models of nervous system disorders, such as epilepsy, by generating mutations in zebrafish orthologues of human epilepsy genes that are involved in synaptic vesicle formation and function. These models may be useful subjects of in vivo chemical screens to identify novel therapeutics for epilepsy and other disorders.

Publications

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Journal articles

All publications

Journal articles

Chapters

Conference proceedings papers

  • Bacila I, Li N, Eachus H, Storbeck K-H, Cunliffe VT & Krone NP (2022) Towards understanding the metabolic phenotype of glucocorticoid deficiency in 21-hydroxylase deficiency. HORMONE RESEARCH IN PAEDIATRICS, Vol. 95(SUPPL 2) (pp 79-79) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Li N, Oakes JA, Storbeck K-H, Cunliffe VT & Krone NP (2019) The P450 side-chain cleavage isozyme cyp11a2 facilitates interrenal and gonadal steroid hormone biosynthesis in developing and adult zebrafish. HORMONE RESEARCH IN PAEDIATRICS, Vol. 91 (pp 66-67) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Oakes JA, Storbeck K-H, Cunliffe VT & Krone NP (2019) Investigating the roles of androgens in male reproductive development, maintenance and function by characterisation of androgen and cortisol deficient 11 beta-hydroxylase mutant zebrafish lines. HORMONE RESEARCH IN PAEDIATRICS, Vol. 91 (pp 50-50) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Li N, Weger M, Griffin A, Eachus H, Cunliffe VT & Krone N (2018) Glucocorticoid Deficiency Causes Differentially Dysregulated Oxidative Stress Depending on the Steroidogenic Defects. HORMONE RESEARCH IN PAEDIATRICS, Vol. 90 (pp 71-72) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Oakes JA, Liz N, Wistow B, Storbeck K-H, Cunliffe VT & Krone N (2018) The Roles of Steroids in Gonadal Development and Maintenance - Insights from a Zebrafish Model of Androgen and Cortisol Deficiency. HORMONE RESEARCH IN PAEDIATRICS, Vol. 90 (pp 53-53) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Harrison MR, Georgiou AS, Lightman EG, Buckle AJ, Spaink HP & Cunliffe VT (2009) Neurodevelopmental functions of the epigenetic machinery in the zebrafish embryo: Histone Deacetylase 1 regulates transformation of neural progenitors into neurons and glia. DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY, Vol. 331(2) (pp 408-408) RIS download Bibtex download

Preprints

Grants

Funding:

  • MRC
  • HEFCE

Collaborators:

  • Marysia Placzek
  • Penny Watt
  • Joseph Harrity
  • Val Gillet
  • Richard Baines
  • Enrico Petretto
Teaching activities

Undergraduate and postgraduate taught modules:

Undergraduate:

  • BMS242/243 Cell & Molecular
  • BMS334 Epigenetics (Coordinator)
  • Level 3 Practical and Dissertation Modules

Masters (MSc):

  • BMS6053 - Critical Analysis of Current Science
Professional activities and memberships
  • Organizer, EMBO Practical Courses (1999, 2004, 2007, 2010)
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching, University of Sheffield (2007)
  • Peer reviewer for scientific journals and grant-awarding bodies
  • Invited speaker at international scientific meetings (European Zebrafish Meeting, International Meeting on Zebrafish Development and Genetics)
Opportunities

We advertise PhD opportunities (Funded or Self-Funded) on FindAPhD.com

For further information and details of other projects on offer, please see the department PhD Opportunities page.