Vlad Farcas
MASTER STUDENT
My master’s research project involves the identification of modulators that impact the expression pattern driven by human non-coding regions carrying IBD-risk variants in zebrafish (Danio rerio). The foundations of my project lie in the observations that most of the hits identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are found in non-coding elements, which involvement in physiology and pathology is still poorly understood. It has been previously shown that zebrafish is a useful model to study the activity of human non-coding elements, as it can faithfully replicate their expression in the tissues where they are naturally active in humans. To visualize in vivo the expression patten of human IBD-risk non-coding elements in zebrafish, my lab generated transgenic lines in which these elements control the expression of fluorescent proteins. In my work, I will study changes in the fluorescence expression pattern driven by the generated reporters upon different exposures, with the goal of acquiring new knowledge regarding the function of IBD-risk non-coding elements.
Villablanca Lab | KI 