Research

The research in the Division is translational and involves strong collaborations with clinicians and industry. Current research areas include use of reporter constructs for imaging of key biological parameters within tumours, focusing on growth, apoptosis, angiogenesis and metastatic pathways and stem cell evolution; modeling the tumour microenvironment including the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition; analysis of paracrine interactions in tumour progression including HGF/c-met, Hedgehog, Gastrin and Fibroblast growth factors; delivery of siRNAs using non-viral and viral delivery systems for target validation; pre-clinical validation/target identification of Traditional Chinese Medicines; contribution of β-catenin controlled intestinal stem-cell associated homeodomain transcription factors to carcinogenesis and the involvement of the tumour suppressor gene, FBW7 a ubiquitin ligase, in intestinal malignant progression. This research portfolio is undertaken by a team of 10 lecturers, research fellows and post-doctoral research scientists with funding from Cancer Research UK, Medical Research Council, Innovation-China UK, National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs), and industry.

We currently have 12 PhD students at different stages in their studies. PhD students within the Division carry out their research within the active team of scientists described above who provide training and laboratory supervision. In addition to regular meetings with their academic supervisors, they participate in laboratory meetings and journal clubs.