Centre for Urological Research

Endocrine disruptors and epigenetics

Alteration in steroid hormone levels during certain periods of development can critically impact on the prostate potentially resulting in permanent alterations that predispose the tissue to the development of benign and malignant disease. Endocrine disruptors (ED) are environmental factors that mimic the action of estrogens both in vitro and in vivo.

We aim to determine the genes most susceptible to epigenetic change following steroid hormone exposure and how such epigenetic alterations are maintained throughout development to give rise to aberrant prostate growth and disease.  Our novel mouse model of human prostate will be used to test how environmental factors influence the transition from healthy to diseased prostate.