The Willis Lab
Research Interests
The research in my laboratory is directed towards understanding how protein synthesis is regulated. Protein synthesis is the process by which the genetic material in the cell (DNA) is converted (via the intermediary substrate RNA) into proteins. Alterations in protein synthesis are associated with all varieties of cancer as well as many other common diseases. My laboratory provides detail of processes occurring at the molecular level, with the aim of finding new directions in which to look for novel treatments for these diseases.
Five years ago I was awarded an advanced fellowship from the BBSRC, which allowed me to reduce my administrative and teaching workload, and return to the laboratory in order to build up my research group. This also allowed me the time and flexibility to design and optimise new techniques that have enabled us to remain at the cutting edge of this type of research. My laboratory has found that protein synthesis of cancer-causing genes (oncogenes), can be initiated by using an alternative mechanism called "internal ribosome entry", and we have further shown that deregulation of gene expression via this mechanism is associated with cancer.
Since 2000, I have been awarded 12 research grants worth 2.2 million pounds and over twenty five papers have resulted from this research. In 2004 I moved to Nottingham with my group, where I hold the Chair of Cancer Cell Biology, and as Director of the Cancer Research Nottingham group, I am working with others to co-ordinate a large network of cancer biology research groups.
In the future, we will continue with our basic research to understand how gene expression is regulated at the level of protein synthesis. We are also expanding our knowledge by screening for aberrant regulation in solid tumours, and in other diseases, and will be using our position within the School of Pharmacy to collaborate with chemists in order to produce and trial potential new drugs. On a larger scale, we intend to expand and focus the areas of both cancer research and RNA biology in Nottingham to produce an internationally regarded centre of excellence.
Professor Anne Willis - Chair of Cancer Cell Biology
PhD ICRF (now CRUK) Clare Hall laboratories working with Dr T Lindahl.
1988-1992 Junior Research Fellow at Churchill College Cambridge &
Research Associate in the Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge.
1992-2000 Lecturer in Biochemistry, University of Leicester.
2002-2004 Reader in Biochemistry, University of Leicester.
2004 Professor in Biochemistry, University of Leicester.
2000-2005 BBSRC Advanced Fellow.
2004 Moved to the University of Nottingham.
Please Click Here for a complete list of publications.