Sabrina Tosi

Academic qualifications

Profile

Dr Sabrina Tosi graduated in Biological Sciences at the University of Milan (Italy) in 1989 and then attained her post-graduate degree in Human Cytogenetics at the University of Pavia (Italy) in 1992. Between 1989 and 1993 she was a research scientist at the Department of Paediatric Haematology, University of Milan, Ospedale San Gerardo, Monza (Italy). During this time she worked also as a visiting research scientist at Oncogenetic Laboratory, Children's Hospital, University of Giessen (Germany) for approximately a year.  In 1994, Dr Tosi transferred to the University of Oxford to work as a research scientist, she then enrolled and completed her DPhil studies in 1999. She continued to work at the University of Oxford until July 2005, when she was appointed as Lecturer in Biosciences at Brunel University.  

Committee responsibilities

• Chair of the School DDS committee.

Admin responsibilities

• Level 1 co-ordinator, Departmental disability adviser.

Teaching responsibilities

Module and programme teaching responsibilities

• Level 1 “Principles of Anatomy and Physiology” study block co-ordinator
• Level 1 “Practical Skills 1: Microscopy” assessment block co-ordinator
• MSc FISH practical co-ordinator

PhD supervision

• Erica Ballabio (Open University, WIMM, Oxford, UK) PhD awarded 2010
• Areej Alshehri (Brunel University) enrolled January 2010
• Abdulbasit Naiel (Brunel University) enrolled February 2010

Teaching interest

Leukaemia chromosome biology

Research interests

Dr Sabrina Tosi is the Head of the Leukaemia and Chromosome Research Laboratory. Her research focuses on the contribution of chromosomal abnormalities to leukaemia. Dr Tosi has a particular interest towards the study of childhood leukaemia. This interest dates back to 1989, when she started her scientific career soon after her undergraduate studies. The main methodological approach used in the laboratory involves the application of modern molecular cytogenetic techniques to unravel the genetic changes at the basis of leukaemic transformation. The projects currently ongoing in the lab are based on the use of fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) and array-comparative genomic hybridisation. These methods have enabled the characterization of new non-random chromosomal translocations specifically associated with certain leukaemia subtypes. More recently, Dr Tosi’s research interests have extended to view chromosomal alterations in context with the higher order chromatin organisation and expression patterns.

Research centres

• Brunel Institute for Cancer Genetics and Pharmacogenomics (BICGP)
• Centre for Cell and Chromosome Biology (CCCB)
• Centre for Infection, Immunity and Disease Mechanisms (CIIDM)
• The Centre for Systems and Synthetic Biology (CSSB)

Research projects and grants

• Interschool project grant no. LBA006 (2009)Analysis of Chromosome Imbalances Using a-CGH Microarray Images. S. Tosi, Y. Li, SJL Knight, £2,500 awarded for 6 months
• Interschool project grant no. LBA007 (2009) Investigating the function of the Homeobox Gene HLXB9 and its role in Leukaemiausing a combined Biochemical and Computational Systems Biology Approach. S. Tosi, D. Gilbert, Q. Gao, J. Hughes, £2,500 awarded for 6 months
• BRIEF award (2005-2006) Alterations of the nucleoporin 98 gene in leukaemia: incidence and functional studies. S. Tosi, £15,000 awarded for 1 year.
• Leukaemia Research Fund UK grant no. 0253 (2003- 2006) Development and application of a CGH microarray system for the assessment of chromosome imbalances in patients with myeloid disorders and apparently normal karyotype, Dr. J. Boultwood, Dr. S. Tosi, Dr. S.J.L. Knight, Professor J.S. Wainscoat, Professor K.C. Gatter, £107,346 awarded for 3 years.
• Leukaemia Research Fund UK grant no. 0354 (2003- 2006) Investigation of recurrent chromosomal imbalances in Hodgkin lymphoma using a CGH microarray system, Professor R. Jarrett, Dr. S. Tosi, Dr. SJL Knight. £ 157,457 awarded for 3 years.

Membership and affiliation

• Member of the European Cytogeneticists Association (ECA)

Publications

Journal Papers

(2013) Naiel, A., Vetter, M., Plekhanova, O., Fleischman, E., Sokova, O., Tsaur, G., Harbott, J. and Tosi, S., A novel three-colour fluorescence in situ hybridization approach for the detection of t(7;12)(q36;p13) in acute myeloid leukaemia reveals new cryptic three way translocation t(7;12;16), Cancers 5 (1) : 281- 295

(2011) Ballabio, E., Regan, R., Garimberti, E., Harbott, J., Bradtke, J., Teigler-Schlegel, A., Biondi, A., Cazzaniga, G., Giudici, G., Wainscoat, JS., Boultwood, J., Bridger, JM., Knight, SJL. and Tosi, S., Genomic imbalances are confined to non-proliferating cells in paediatric patients with acute myeloid leukaemia and a normal or incomplete karyotype, PLoS ONE 6 (6) : e20607 Download publication

(2009) Lake, A., Shield, LA., Cordano, P., Chui, DT., Osborne, J., Crae, S., Wilson, KS., Tosi, S., Knight, SJ., Gesk, S., Siebert, R., Hay, RT. and Jarrett, RF., Mutations of NFKBA, encoding IkappaBalpha, are a recurrent finding in classical Hodgkin lymphoma but are not a unifying feature of non-EBV-associated cases, International Journal of Cancer 125 1334- 1342

(2009) Ballabio, E., Cantarella, CD., Federico, C., Di Mare, P., Hall, G., Harbott, J., Hughes, J., Saccone, S. and Tosi, S., Ectopic expression of the HLXB9 gene is associated with an altered nuclear position in t(7;12) leukaemias, Leukemia 23 1179- 1182

(2008) Federico, C., Cantarella, CD., Di Mare, P., Tosi, S. and Saccone, S., The radial arrangement of the human chromosome 7 in the lymphocyte nucleus is associated with chromosomal band gene density, Chromosoma 117 399- 410

(2008) Hauer, J., Tosi, S., Schuster, FR., Harbott, J., Kolb, HJ. and Borkhardt, A., Graft versus leukaemia effect after haploidentical HSCT in a MLL-negative infant AML with HLXB9/ETV6 rearrangement, Pediatr Blood Cancer 50 921- 923

(2005) Tosi, S., Ballabio, E., Teigler-Schlegel, A., Boultwood, J., Bruch, J. and Harbott, J., Characterization of 6q abnormalities in childhood acute myeloid leukemia and identification of a novel t(6;11)(q24.1;p15.5) resulting in a NUP98-C6orf80 fusion in a case of acute megakaryoblastic leukemia, Genes Chromosomes and Cancer 44 (3) : 225- 232

(2003) Tosi, S., Hughes, J., Scherer, SW., Nakabayashi, K., Harbott, J., Haas, OA., Cazzaniga, G., Biondi, A., Kempski, H. and Kearney, L., Heterogeneity of the 7q36 breakpoints in the t(7;12) involving ETV6 in infant leukemia., Genes Chromosomes Cancer 38 (2) : 191- 200 Download publication

(2003) Scherer, SW., Cheung, J., MacDonald, JR., Osborne, LR., Nakabayashi, K., Herbrick, JA., Carson, AR., Parker-Katiraee, L., Skaug, J., Khaja, R., Zhang, J., Hudek, AK., Li, M., Haddad, M., Duggan, GE., Fernandez, BA., Kanematsu, E., Gentles, S., Christopoulos, CC., Choufani, S., Kwasnicka, D., Zheng, XH., Lai, Z., Nusskern, D., Zhang, Q., Gu, Z., Lu, F., Zeesman, S., Nowaczyk, MJ., Teshima, I., Chitayat, D., Shuman, C., Weksberg, R., Zackai, EH., Grebe, TA., Cox, SR., Kirkpatrick, SJ., Rahman, N., Friedman, JM., Heng, HH., Pelicci, PG., Lo-Coco, F., Belloni, E., Shaffer, LG., Pober, B., Morton, CC., Gusella, JF., Bruns, GA., Korf, BR., Quade, BJ., Ligon, AH., Ferguson, H., Higgins, AW., Leach, NT., Herrick, SR., Lemyre, E., Farra, CG., Kim, HG., Summers, AM., Gripp, KW., Roberts, W., Szatmari, P., Winsor, EJ., Grzeschik, KH., Teebi, A., Minassian, BA., Kere, J., Armengol, L., Pujana, MA., Estivill, X., Wilson, MD., Koop, BF., Tosi, S., Moore, GE., Boright, AP., Zlotorynski, E., Kerem, B., Kroisel, PM., Petek, E., Oscier, DG., Mould, SJ., Dohner, H., Dohner, K., Rommens, JM., Vincent, JB., Venter, JC., Li, PW., Mural, RJ., Adams, MD. and Tsui, LC., Human chromosome 7: DNA sequence and biology, Science 300 (5620) : 767- 772

(2002) Fernando, FS., Conforti, L., Tosi, S., Smith, AD. and Coleman, MP., Human homologue of a gene mutated in the slow Wallerian degeneration (C57BL/Wld(s)) mouse., Gene 284 (1-2) : 23- 29 Download publication

(2002) Boultwood, J., Fidler, C., Strickson, AJ., Watkins, F., Gama, S., Kearney, L., Tosi, S., Kasprzyk, A., Cheng, JF., Jaju, RJ. and Wainscoat, JS., Narrowing and genomic annotation of the commonly deleted region of the 5q- syndrome, Blood 99 (12) : 4638- 4641

(2001) Minelli, A., Maserati, E., Giudici, G., Tosi, S., Olivieri, C., Bonvini, L., De Filippi, P., Biondi, A., Lo Curto, F., Pasquali, F. and Danesino, C., Familial partial monosomy 7 and myelodysplasia: different parental origin of the monosomy 7 suggests action of a mutator gene, CANCER GENETICS AND CYTOGENETICS 124 (2) : 147- 151

(2001) Cazzaniga, G., Daniotti, M., Tosi, S., Giudici, G., Aloisi, A., Pioltelli, P., Kearney, L. and Biondi, A., The paired box domain gene PAX5 is fused to ETV6/TEL in an acute lymphoblastic leukemia case, Cancer Research 61 (12) : 4666- 4670

(2000) Tosi, S., Harbott, J., Teigler-Schlegel, A., Haas, OA., Pirc-Danoewinata, H., Harrison, CJ., Biondi, A., Cazzaniga, G., Kempski, H., Scherer, SW. and Kearney, L., t(7;12)(q36;p13), a new recurrent translocation involving ETV6 in infant leukemia., Genes Chromosomes Cancer 29 (4) : 325- 332 Download publication

(1999) Cazzaniga, G., Tosi, S., Aloisi, A., Giudici, G., Daniotti, M., Pioltelli, P., Kearney, L. and Biondi, A., The tyrosine kinase Abl-related gene ARG is fused to ETV6 in an AML-M4Eo patient with a t(1;12)(q25;p13): Molecular cloning of both reciprocal transcripts, BLOOD 94 (12) : 4370- 4373

(1999) Tosi, S., Scherer, SW., Giudici, G., Rambaldi, A., Czepulkowski, B., Biondi, A. and Kearney, L., Delineation of multiple deleted regions in 7q in myeloid disorders., Genes Chromosomes Cancer 25 (4) : 384- 392

(1999) Tosi, S., Giudici, G., Rambaldi, A., Scherer, SW., Bray-Ward, P., Dirscherl, L., Biondi, A. and Kearney, L., Characterization of the human myeloid leukemia-derived cell line GF-D8 by multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization, subtelomeric probes, and comparative genomic hybridization., Genes Chromosomes Cancer 24 (3) : 213- 221 Download publication

(1998) Tosi, S., Giudici, G., Mosna, G., Harbott, J., Specchia, G., Grosveld, G., Privitera, E., Kearney, L., Biondi, A. and Cazzaniga, G., Identification of new partner chromosomes involved in fusions with the ETV6 (TEL) gene in hematologic malignancies, GENES CHROMOSOMES & CANCER 21 (3) : 223- 229

(1997) Tosi, S., Mosna, G., Cazzaniga, G., Giudici, G., Kearney, L., Biondi, A. and Privitera, E., Unbalanced t(3;12) in a case of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) results in partial trisomy of 3q as defined by FISH, LEUKEMIA 11 (9) : 1465- 1468

(1996) Tosi, S., Cabot, G., Giudici, G., Attuati, V., Morandi, P., Rambaldi, A., Döhner, H. and Biondi, A., Detection of the breakpoint cluster region-ABL fusion in chronic myeloid leukemia with variant Philadelphia chromosome translocations by in situ hybridization., Cancer Genet Cytogenet 89 (2) : 153- 156 Download publication

(1996) Tosi, S., Harbott, J., Haas, OA., Douglas, A., Hughes, DM., Ross, FM., Biondi, A., Scherer, SW. and Kearney, L., Classification of deletions and identification of cryptic translocations involving 7q by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)., Leukemia 10 (4) : 644- 649 Download publication

(1995) HASHIM, Y., RAGOUSSIS, I., KEARNEY, L., TOSI, S. and SO, AK., PHYSICAL MAPPING OF THE HUMAN T-CELL RECEPTOR-BETA GENE-COMPLEX, USING YEAST ARTIFICIAL CHROMOSOMES, IMMUNOGENETICS 41 (6) : 337- 342

(1994) Tosi, S., Stilgenbauer, S., Giudici, G., Capalbo, S., Specchia, G., Liso, V., Castagna, S., Lanzi, E., Lichter, P. and Biondi, A., Reciprocal translocation t(12;13)(p13;q14) in acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia: report and cytogenetic analysis of two cases., Cancer Genet Cytogenet 77 (2) : 106- 110 Download publication

(1994) Giacomini, P., Tosi, S., Murgia, C., Nobili, F., Gaetani, S., Gambari, R., Nicotra, MR., Simoni, G., Maggi, F. and Natali, PG., First-trimester human trophoblast is class II major histocompatibility complex mRNA+/antigen., Hum Immunol 39 (4) : 281- 289 Download publication

(1994) Tosi, S., Ritterbach, J., Maglia, O., Harbott, J., Riehm, H., Masera, G., Biondi, A. and Lampert, F., Double target in situ hybridization applied to the study of numerical aberrations in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia., Cancer Genet Cytogenet 73 (2) : 103- 108 Download publication

(1993) Rambaldi, A., Bettoni, S., Tosi, S., Giudici, G., Schirò, R., Borleri, GM., Abbate, M., Chiaffarino, F., Colotta, F. and Barbui, T., Establishment and characterization of a new granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor-dependent and interleukin-3-dependent human acute myeloid leukemia cell line (GF-D8)., Blood 81 (5) : 1376- 1383 Download publication

(1992) Rovelli, A., Cantú Rajnoldi, A., Biondi, A., Giudici, G., Romitti, L., Tosi, S., Locasciulli, A., Uderzo, C. and Masera, G., Microgranular variant of acute promyelocitic leukemia in children, J Clin Oncol 10 1413- 1418