Cell Biology, Pathology and Ageing

Basic cell biology research covers a range of cancer related research such as expression and localisation of tumour antigens. Other areas of interest include the role of the cytoskeleton and the protein cross-linking enzyme transglutaminase in cell attachment, differentiation and migration, and the study of telomere biology, damage and repair.

Pathology research focuses on major life threatening diseases and conditions such as cancer, neurodegenerative conditions, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and pregnancy induced hypertension (pre-eclampsia). Cancer research includes genetic screening for tumour markers, mechanisms of mutagenesis, tumour therapies, tumour immunology, identification of tumour markers by a combination of proteomic and bioinformatics approaches and/or immunogenic peptides for use in the development of cancer vaccines, clinical trials of potential therapeutic agents, etc. Cardiovascular research includes role of G-coupled receptors in cardioprotection.

Another major interest is the use of cultured cell models of immunosenescence, diabetes, Parkinson's disease and neurotoxicity to study cellular mechanisms of degeneration. This utilises a range of molecular biology and proteomic tools to identify novel markers of cellular degeneration/dysfunction and to determine the role of specific processes (e.g. DNA damage, cytoskeletal proteins, monoamine oxidase, transglutaminase and cell signalling pathways) in these phenomena.

The work is or has been funded by research grants and fellowships from a variety of sources including EPSRC, John and Lucille van Geest Foundation, the EU, DEFRA, The British Heart Foundation, The Wellcome Trust, Anthony Nolan and The Dowager Countess Eleanor Peel Trust.