People

Dr Timothy Barrow

Lecturer
School of Life Sciences
Dr Timothy Barrow

Profile

Biography

My main research interests are within the field of cancer epigenetics. Much of my ongoing work examines genetic and epigenetic changes in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), and how we can use this knowledge to better understand the development of malignancies and to develop clinical biomarkers that will benefit patients. My work on CLL has identified early epigenetic changes that are detectable years before diagnosis in some individuals, and changes in patients undergoing treatment that affect their sensitivity to frontline therapies. I have been part of collaborative projects that identified genetic variants associated with progressive CLL and developed bioinformatics-based methods for identifying subtype-specific vulnerability genes across a range of malignancies. My research has also incorporated the examination of epigenetic changes in solid tumours, revealing loss of genomic imprinting in breast cancer, and smoking-associated hypermethylation of the APC tumour suppressor gene in colorectal cancer. In parallel to this, I maintain an active interest in fundamental epigenetic processes and epigenetic changes in response to environmental exposures. My collaborative work has included examining the genomic targets and inhibition of DNMT isoforms, the impact of morphine exposure on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA methylation in different regions of the brain, and the first study to report an impact of environmental exposures upon RNA m6A methylation. My research has been supported by funding from Bright Red, the Leukemia Research Foundation, and the British Society for Haematology.

Qualifications

  • PhD University of Cambridge, (2010)

  • MBiochem (Hons) University of Bath, (2005)

Appointments

University of Essex

  • Lecturer, University of Essex (1/1/2023 - present)

Other academic

  • Senior Lecturer in Genomics, University of Sunderland (1/8/2017 - 31/12/2022)

  • Research Associate, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University (24/11/2014 - 31/7/2017)

  • Postdoctoral researcher, University Medical Center Freiburg (1/3/2011 - 31/8/2014)

Research and professional activities

Research interests

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Key words: Leukaemia
Open to supervise

Cancer epigenetics

Key words: Cancer
Open to supervise

Colorectal cancer

Key words: Cancer
Open to supervise

Environmental epigenetics

Key words: DNA methylation
Open to supervise

Epigenetic ageing

Key words: DNA methylation
Open to supervise

Teaching and supervision

Current teaching responsibilities

  • Biomedical Science: Practice and Employability (BS214)

  • Medical Genetics (BS220)

  • Cell Biology (BS225)

  • Cell Biology and Cellular Pathology (BS238)

  • Issues in Biomedical Science (BS306)

  • Human Molecular Genetics (BS320)

  • Molecular Basis of Cancer (BS349)

  • Molecular Mechanisms of Disease (BS938)

  • Research Project in Biomedical Science (BS831)

  • Research Project (MSci Biomedical Science) (BS980)

Publications

Journal articles (25)

Jiménez-Garza, O., Ghosh, M., Barrow, TM. and Godderis, L., Toxicomethylomics revisited: A state-of-the-science review about DNA methylation modifications in blood cells from workers exposed to toxic agents. Frontiers in Public Health. 11

Sae-Lee, C., Barrow, TM., Colicino, E., Choi, SH., Rabanal-Ruiz, Y., Green, D., Korolchuk, VI., Mathers, JC. and Byun, H-M., (2022). Genomic targets and selective inhibition of DNA methyltransferase isoforms. Clinical Epigenetics. 14 (1), 103-

Barrow, TM., Wong Doo, N., Milne, RL., Giles, GG., Willmore, E., Strathdee, G. and Byun, H-M., (2021). Analysis of retrotransposon subfamily DNA methylation reveals novel early epigenetic changes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Haematologica. 106 (1), 98-110

Barrow, TM., Nakjang, S., Lafta, F., Bilotkach, K., Woodhouse, L., Junge, G., Tudhope, SJ., Wallis, JP., Marr, H., Marshall, S., Bown, N., Willmore, E. and Strathdee, G., (2021). Epigenome-wide analysis reveals functional modulators of drug sensitivity and post-treatment survival in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. British Journal of Cancer. 124 (2), 474-483

Li, Y., Byun, H-M., Barrow, TM. and Zhang, Q., (2021). Editorial: environmental genomics and epigenomics: response, development and disease. Frontiers in Genetics. 12, 694288-

Lin, W-Y., Fordham, SE., Sunter, N., Elstob, C., Rahman, T., Willmore, E., Shepherd, C., Strathdee, G., Mainou-Fowler, T., Piddock, R., Mearns, H., Barrow, T., Houlston, RS., Marr, H., Wallis, J., Summerfield, G., Marshall, S., Pettitt, A., Pepper, C., Fegan, C., Forconi, F., Dyer, MJS., Jayne, S., Sellors, A., Schuh, A., Robbe, P., Oscier, D., Bailey, J., Rais, S., Bentley, A., Cawkwell, L., Evans, P., Hillmen, P., Pratt, G., Allsup, DJ. and Allan, JM., (2021). Genome-wide association study identifies risk loci for progressive chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Nature communications. 12 (1), 665-

Schwalbe, EC., H, L., Lafta, F., Barrow, TM. and Strathdee, G., (2021). Integration of genome-level data to allow identification of subtype-specific vulnerability genes as novel therapeutic targets.. Oncogene. 40 (33), 5213-5223

Cayir, A., Byun, H-M. and Barrow, TM., (2020). Environmental epitranscriptomics. Environmental Research. 189, 109885-109885

Fang, J., Kang, C-M., Osorio-Yáñez, C., Barrow, TM., Zhang, R., Zhang, Y., Li, C., Liu, H., Li, P-H., Guo, L. and Byun, H-M., (2020). Prenatal PM2.5 exposure and the risk of adverse births outcomes: Results from Project ELEFANT. Environmental Research. 191, 110232-110232

Sae-Lee, C., Biasi, JD., Robinson, N., Barrow, TM., Mathers, JC., Koutsidis, G. and Byun, H-M., (2020). DNA methylation patterns of LINE-1 and Alu for pre-symptomatic dementia in type 2 diabetes. PLOS ONE. 15 (6), e0234578-e0234578

Cayir, A., Barrow, TM., Guo, L. and Byun, H-M., (2019). Exposure to environmental toxicants reduces global N6-methyladenosine RNA methylation and alters expression of RNA methylation modulator genes. Environmental Research. 175, 228-234

Barrow, TM., Peng, C., Wilson, A., Wang, H., Liu, H., Shen, L., Tang, N-J., Sae-Lee, C., Li, P-H., Guo, L. and Byun, H-M., (2019). Psychosocial stress is associated with benign breast disease in young Chinese women: results from Project ELEFANT. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. 173 (1), 217-224

Cayir, A., Barrow, TM., Wang, H., Liu, H., Li, C., Ding, N., Li, Y., Kang, C-M., Guo, L., Li, P-H. and Byun, H-M., (2018). Occupational noise exposure is associated with hypertension in China: Results from project ELEFANT. PLOS ONE. 13 (12), e0209041-e0209041

Sae‐Lee, C., Corsi, S., Barrow, TM., Kuhnle, GGC., Bollati, V., Mathers, JC. and Byun, H., (2018). Dietary Intervention Modifies DNA Methylation Age Assessed by the Epigenetic Clock. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research. 62 (23), e1800092-

Guo, L., Peng, C., Xu, H., Wilson, A., Li, P-H., Wang, H., Liu, H., Shen, L., Chen, X., Qi, X., Tang, N-J., Barrow, TM. and Byun, H-M., (2018). Age at menarche and prevention of hypertension through lifestyle in young Chinese adult women: result from project ELEFANT. BMC Women's Health. 18 (1), 182-

Xu, H., Li, P-H., Barrow, TM., Colicino, E., Li, C., Song, R., Liu, H., Tang, N-J., Liu, S., Guo, L. and Byun, H-M., (2018). Obesity as an effect modifier of the association between menstrual abnormalities and hypertension in young adult women: Results from Project ELEFANT. PLOS ONE. 13 (11), e0207929-e0207929

Barrow, TM., Byun, H-M., Li, X., Smart, C., Wang, Y-X., Zhang, Y., Baccarelli, AA. and Guo, L., (2017). The effect of morphine upon DNA methylation in ten regions of the rat brain. Epigenetics. 12 (12), 1038-1047

Guo, L., Li, P-H., Li, H., Colicino, E., Colicino, S., Wen, Y., Zhang, R., Feng, X., Barrow, TM., Cayir, A., Baccarelli, AA. and Byun, H-M., (2017). Effects of environmental noise exposure on DNA methylation in the brain and metabolic health. Environmental Research. 153, 73-82

Barrow, TM., Klett, H., Toth, R., Böhm, J., Gigic, B., Habermann, N., Scherer, D., Schrotz‐King, P., Skender, S., Abbenhardt‐Martin, C., Zielske, L., Schneider, M., Ulrich, A., Schirmacher, P., Herpel, E., Brenner, H., Busch, H., Boerries, M., Ulrich, CM. and Michels, KB., (2017). Smoking is associated with hypermethylation of the APC 1A promoter in colorectal cancer: the ColoCare Study. The Journal of Pathology. 243 (3), 366-375

Barrow, TM., Barault, L., Ellsworth, RE., Harris, HR., Binder, AM., Valente, AL., Shriver, CD. and Michels, KB., (2015). Aberrant methylation of imprinted genes is associated with negative hormone receptor status in invasive breast cancer. International Journal of Cancer. 137 (3), 537-547

Byun, H-M. and Barrow, TM., (2015). Analysis of Pollutant-Induced Changes in Mitochondrial DNA Methylation. Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.). 1265, 271-283

Tabish, AM., Baccarelli, AA., Godderis, L., Barrow, TM., Hoet, P. and Byun, H-M., (2015). Assessment of Changes in Global DNA Methylation Levels by Pyrosequencing® of Repetitive Elements. Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.). 1315, 201-207

Barrow, TM. and Michels, KB., (2014). Epigenetic epidemiology of cancer. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 455 (1-2), 70-83

Barrow, TM. and Byun, H-M., (2014). Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms on DNA Methylation Microarrays: precautions Against Confounding. Epigenomics. 6 (6), 577-579

Joosen, AMCP., Kuhnle, GGC., Aspinall, SM., Barrow, TM., Lecommandeur, E., Azqueta, A., Collins, AR. and Bingham, SA., (2009). Effect of processed and red meat on endogenous nitrosation and DNA damage. Carcinogenesis. 30 (8), 1402-1407

Book chapters (1)

Barrow, TM., (2018). Epigenetic Epidemiology for Cancer Risk. In: Epigenetic Mechanisms in Cancer. Elsevier. 195- 222. 9780128095522

Grants and funding

2024

A Novel Clinical Test for Measuring Treatment Response in Leukaemia Patients

[UOE_BIAA] University of Essex (BBSRC IAA)

HOXA genes as drivers of venetoclax resistance in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

British Society for Haematology

2023

Developing novel markers of minimal residual disease for chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Leukemia Research Foundation

Contact

timothy.barrow@essex.ac.uk

Location:

3SW.4.32, Colchester Campus

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