Personal profile

Overview

I am a fully tenured Principal Investigator, Associate Dean of Business Engagement, co-Director of Manchester Centre for Cellular Metabolism, I am Professor of Molecular Cell Biology, Division of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester. I act as one of the key university conduits for the CRUK Manchester Institute, Medicines Discovery Catapult and I am the Industry Lead for the Manchester BRC and Manchester academic lead for Singapore. I am also a PI in the Manchester Cancer Research Centre and hold adjunct professorships in Athens and Singapore.

After reading for my doctorate at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (now CRUK) in London (1997), I undertook post-doctoral research at Imperial College London, Southampton and University College, London with associated research spells in Michigan and Frankfurt. I have helped lead a transformational change in an applied research focus and activity in Manchester, engendering a culture of multiple stakeholders including the NHS, academics, industry, innovative funding agencies, the public and patients. One key output during my time in Manchester is an enhancement of the biomedical industrial and basic research partnerships portfolio which has helped generate successful MRC and SBRI/ NIHR funding programmes. Moreover, applied-industrial research ipact and income has moved from an FEC deficit to one which is pragmatic and cost effective for the faculty.

Research interests

Our research interests focus on biomarker and drug discovery, validation, with associated companion biomarker application in cell stress and survival mechanisms, involving chemoresistance, DNA damage, epigenetic modification and transcriptional and phenotype regulation, in cancer biology, cardioprotection and apoptosis regulation. We use translationally relevant models: skeletal cells undergoing stress, cardiac myocytes undergoing ischaemia/reperfusion injury, and cancers; i.e. solid (prostate, breast, endometrial, pancreatic and ovarian) and blood borne (leukaemia and lymphoma). The lab currently hosts 1 post-doc, 1 EO, and 8 PhD students. I also co-supervise 2 PhD students). I regularly lecture to undergraduate and postgraduate science and medical students on cancer cell biology, drug discovery, proteomics, metabolomics, systems biology, biochemistry, genetics and cellular stress responses and was one of the original establishment team of the BM4 graduate entry in Medicine degree programme at Southampton before relocating to Manchester.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
  • SDG 4 - Quality Education
  • SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  • SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
  • SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals

Education/Academic qualification

Bachelor of Science, Molecular Cell Biology, University of York

19901993

Award Date: 1 Jul 1993

Head Start Leadership Programme, Masters level, The University of Manchester

20132014

Professional Certificate in Academic Performance, University of Southampton

20052006

Doctor of Philosophy, Biochemistry - Imperial Cancer Research Fund (CRUK)

19931997

External positions

Co-founder, PRECignature Biotechnology

2018 → …

Co-founder, Pentagon Biotechnology

2018 → …

NED and SAB, DeepMed IO Limited

2017 → …

Advisor, Inspiral Biomedical Limited

2016 → …

Honorary Professor, Department of Histology & Embryology, University of Athens

Sept 2015 → …

Adjunct Professor, AGENCY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH (A*STAR)

Aug 2015 → …

Academic Lead, Medicines Discovery Catapult Ltd

Jul 2015 → …

NED and SAB, Aptamer Group Ltd

2011 → …

Co-founder, Karus Therapeutics Ltd

Jul 2005 → …

Areas of expertise

  • QP Physiology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Cancer
  • Proteomics
  • Biomarkers
  • Diagnostics
  • Drug discovery and validation
  • Wellness
  • Systems Health
  • R Medicine (General)
  • Disease
  • Cardiovascular
  • Skeletal Biology
  • Stress Biology
  • Apoptosis and cell survival

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

  • Cancer
  • Manchester Precision Medicine Institute
  • Manchester Regenerative Medicine Network
  • Digital Futures
  • Christabel Pankhurst Institute
  • Manchester Cancer Research Centre

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