In my current position I am a Research Fellow directing the scientific research arm of the Genito Urinary Cancer Research Group led by Professor Noel Clarke. The main research focus of the group is understanding the mechanism of metastasis in prostate cancer, especially the targeted metastasis towards the bone. Recent discoveries within the group has highlighted the role of specific polyunsaturated fatty acids in directing the metastatic process. We also have an active interest in the characterisation of new diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and the isolation of cancer stem cells from bladder, renal and testicular cancer. This includes a long standing collaboration with Professor Peter Gardner's Analytical and Biomedical Spectroscopy group at the MIB, University of Manchester.

Current Post:

08/2013- Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester (Research Fellow). Genito Urinary Cancer Research Group.  Conducting research into prostate cancer metastasis (the role of lipid metabolism), prostate cancer stem cells, molecular diagnostics, prostate cancer radiobiology and, renal, testicular and bladder stem cell biology.

Summary of Previous Posts: (with dates)

2002- 07/2013 Paterson Institute for Cancer Research (Associate Scientist). Genito Urinary Cancer Research Group. Conducting research into prostate cancer metastasis, prostate cancer stem cells, molecular diagnostics, prostate cancer radiobiology and, renal, testicular and bladder stem cell biology.

2000-02 ICRF Clinical Centre in Leeds (Research Fellow). Targeting expression of tumour antigens to dendritic cells in an in vitro embryonic stem cell system. Supervisor Prof. Poulam Patel

1997-99 CRC Paterson Institute (Post Doc). New approaches to immunotherapy of human papillomavirus-associated cervical neoplasia. Supervisors Dr Simon Stacey and Prof. Peter Stern

1995-97 CRC Paterson Institute (Post Doc). Development of HPV E6 and E7 fowlpox recombinants and analysis of CTL responses to these recombinants. Supervisors Dr Simon Stacey and Prof. Peter Stern

Mechanism of Prostate Cancer Metastasis to the Bone Marrow Stroma

• Binding and endothelial transmigartion by malignant prostate epithelial cells
• Invasion Stimulus
  • Lipids (Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids)
  • Inhibitors of invasion

Molecular diagnostic and prognostic indicators

• Chemometric analysis (in collaboration with the School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Sciences, Uni Manchester)
• Multimarker qRT-PCR analysis of circulating cells in blood and bone marrow

Isolation and Characterisation of Urological Adult Stem Cells from Normal and Malignant Human Tissue

• Prostate
• Kidney
• Bladder
• Testes

GenitoUrinary Cancer Research Group:
Professor Noel W. Clarke (PI)
Dr. Ashwin Sachdeva
Mrs Claire A. Hart

Collaborators:
Professor Peter Gardner, Analytical and Biomedical Spectroscopy, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB), The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN
Dr Nicholas Lockyer, Lecturer School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science. Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre (MIB), The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN

• American Urology Association (AUA)
• American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
• European Urological Association
• Young Prostate Researchers
• EACR
• BACR
• Prostate Cancer UK Reasearch Advisory Committee Member

Hoechst 33342 dye efflux assay

Human Bone Marrow Co-cultures

    -Invasion Assays

    -Colony formation

2nd Degree Ph.D. in Molecular Virology; Institute for Animal Health, Compton - University of Reading.1991 - 1995

1st Degree B.Sc. (Hons.) 2:1 Microbiology; University of Leeds 1988 - 1991

2020

Construction of a Tissue Microarray for Validation of EphA2 Receptor as a Prostate Cancer Biomarker

Contributor: Bromby, Adam

Documents (full text and objects to institutional repository): https://pure.manchester.ac.uk/admin/files/184631095/FULL_TEXT.PDF

Keywords: Tissue Microarray, Prostate cancer, EphA2, Biomarker

Awarding institution: The University of Manchester

Supervisors/Advisors: Brown, Michael, Supervisor

                                         Clarke, Noel, Supervisor

Award Date: 01/08/2020

UoM administered thesis: MPhil

2019

Exploring the Effect of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Prostate Cancer Cells

Contributor: Alghaith, Adel

Documents (full text and objects to institutional repository): https://pure.manchester.ac.uk/admin/files/87763501/FULL_TEXT.PDF

Keywords:  lipid mediator, lipid classes, invasion, migration, prostate cancer, CD44, n-3 PUFA, docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, arachidonic acid, n-6 PUFA

Awarding institution: The University of Manchester

Supervisors/Advisors: Demonacos, Costas, Supervisor

                                         Brown, Michael, Supervisor

                                         Nicolaou, Anna, Supervisor

Award Date: 01/08/2019

UoM administered thesis: PhD

Risk stratification of metastatic disease burden in hormone naive metastatic prostate cancer -The STAMPEDE analysis

Contributor: Hoyle, Alex

Documents (full text and objects to institutional repository): https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/files/184628101/FULL_TEXT.PDF

Keywords: overall survival, abiraterone, docetaxel, disease burden, subgroup, disease volume, metastatic, Prostate cancer, disease risk, risk stratification

Awarding institution: The University of Manchester

Supervisors/Advisors: Brown, Michael, Supervisor

                                         Clarke, Noel, Supervisor

Award Date: 01/08/2019

UoM administered thesis: MD

2018

The Prognostic Potential of The Long Non-coding RNA MALAT1 and LDH Related Metabolism in Prostate Cancer

Contributor: Hiew, Kenneth

Documents (full text and objects to institutional repository): https://pure.manchester.ac.uk/admin/files/184634410/FULL_TEXT.PDF

Keywords: prostate cancer, LncRNA, MALAT1, cancer metabolism, prognostic biomarker

Awarding institution: The University of Manchester

Supervisors/Advisors: Brown, Michael, Supervisor

                                         Clarke, Noel, Supervisor

Award Date: 31/12/2018

UoM administered thesis: MD

2015

Biomarker and Treatment Target Development in Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

Contributor: Robinson, Richard

Documents (full text and objects to institutional repository): https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/files/54569403/FULL_TEXT.PDF

Keywords: Bladder Cancer, Biomarker, TMA, CYR61, CTGF, MET

Awarding institution: The University of Manchester

Supervisors/Advisors: Brown, Michael, Supervisor

                                          Clarke, Noel, Supervisor

Award Date: 01/08/2015

UoM administered thesis: MD

2013

Investigation of the Chemoresistance Mechanisms in Subpopulations of Renal Cell Carcinoma Cells

Contributor: Liew, Matthew

Documents (full text and objects to institutional repository):

Keywords: Kidney Cancer, Hoechst 33342, side-population, chemoresitance

Awarding institution: The University of Manchester

Supervisors/Advisors: Brown, Michael, Supervisor

                                         Clarke, Noel, Supervisor

Award Date: 2013

UoM administered thesis: MD

2010

Isolation and characterisation of a side population from renal cell carcinoma

Contributor: Addla, Sanjai

Documents (full text and objects to institutional repository): https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.525653

Keywords: Kidney Cancer, Stem Cells, Side-population, Hoechst 33342

Awarding institution: The University of Manchester

Supervisors/Advisors: Clarke, Noel, Supervisor

                                          Brown, Michael, Supervisor

Award Date: 2010

UoM administered thesis: MD

Lipid signalling in site-directed prostate cancer bone metastasis.

Contributor: Thomas, Clair

Documents (full text and objects to institutional repository):

Keywords: Prostate Cancer, bone metastasis, transendothelial migration, Lipid signalling

Awarding institution: The University of Manchester

Supervisors/Advisors: Brown, Michael, Supervisor

                                         Clarke, Noel, Supervisor

Award Date: 2010

UoM administered thesis: MPhil

Isolation and characterisation of an enriched side-population from human renal epithelial cells

Contributor: Oates, Jeremy Edward

Documents (full text and objects to institutional repository): https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.518442

Keywords: Kidney Cancer, Stem Cells, Side-population, Hoechst 33342

Awarding institution: The University of Manchester

Supervisors/Advisors: Brown, Michael, Supervisor

                                         Clarke, Noel, Supervisor

Award Date: 2010

UoM administered thesis: MD

2009

Optimisation of the Hoechst 33342 Dye Efflux Assay for Small Cell Number Microarray Profiling of the Prostate

Contributor: Grey, Benjamin R

Documents (full text and objects to institutional repository): https://uomlibrary.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_65637c98-dcc1-473f-9b31-21d85a4a3b78

Keywords: Prostate Cancer, Stem Cells, Side-population, Hoechst 33342

Awarding institution: The University of Manchester

Supervisors/Advisors: Brown, Michael, Supervisor

                                         Clarke, Noel, Supervisor

Award Date: 2009

UoM administered thesis: MD

2008

Bone Marrow endothelial transmigration of prostate carcinoma cells

Contributor: Roulson, Jo-An

Documents (full text and objects to institutional repository): https://uomlibrary.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_d037a4b3-98f1-418b-8691-31cece040c4c

Keywords: Prostate Cancer, bone metastasis, transendothelial migration

Awarding institution: The University of Manchester

Supervisors/Advisors: Brown, Michael, Supervisor

                                         Clarke, Noel, Supervisor

Award Date: 31/12/2008

UoM administered thesis: PhD

Quantitative Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction in the Molecular Staging of Prostate Cancer

Contributor: Ross, David G.

Documents (full text and objects to institutional repository): https://uomlibrary.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_dda251a1-795e-494e-beea-69b1d5289f91

Keywords: Prostate Cancer, Staging, RT-PCR, Blood

Awarding institution: The University of Manchester

Supervisors/Advisors: Brown, Michael, Supervisor

                                         Clarke, Noel, Supervisor

Award Date: 2008

UoM administered thesis: MD

Isolation and Characterization of the Stem Cell Phenotype in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Prostate Cancer

Contributor: Gilmore, Paul Edward

Documents (full text and objects to institutional repository): https://www-proquest-com.manchester.idm.oclc.org/docview/2135263257

Keywords: Prostate Cancer, bone metastasis, transendothelial migration

Awarding institution: The University of Manchester

Supervisors/Advisors: Brown, Michael, Supervisor

                                         Clarke, Noel, Supervisor

Award Date: 2008

UoM administered thesis: MD