Overview
Research Interests:
- Cancer metabolism, in particular lipidomics.
- Molecular mechanisms of chemical carcinogenesis.
- Metabolomics and in vitro toxicology in mammalian cell models.
- Metabolic profiling in human toxicology and disease .
- Stem cell metabolism and differentiation.
- Food borne carcinogens and their effect on human health.
Research Projects
ROLES OF NF-κB IN THE CONTROL OF INFLAMMATION AND METABOLISM IN CANCER (CRUK funded).
The project aims to define the role of NF-κB in cancer. Specifically: The mechanism by which NF-κB promotes tumourigenesis and metabolic adaptation during nutrient limitation. My role in the project is to acquire metabolic profiles of in vitro and in vivo samples and analyse the related data. The metabolic profiling is carried out on NMR, GC-MS and UPLC-MS analytical platforms. For this project I am based both in the Division of Cancer (Dept. of Surgery and Cancer) and the Division of Immunology and Inflammation (Medicine).
DETECTIVE (EU FP7).
The DETECTIVE (Detection of Endpoints and Biomarkers for Repeated Dose Toxicity Using In Vitro Systems) project is part of the EU seventh framework programme. The aim of the project is the development of human toxicity biomarkers for repeated dose toxicity testing in human-based in vitro systems. My role in the project is to provide metabolic profiles for multiple cell systems (heart, liver and kidney) to aid in the biomarker discovery process. The metabolic profiling is carried out on NMR, GC-MS and UPLC-MS analytical platforms.
CarcinoGENOMICS ((EU FP6) completed).
The principal aim of the carcinoGENOMICS project (PL-037712) was to develop in vitro assays as an alternative to the two-year rodent bioassay, currently regarded as the “gold standard” for assessing the carcinogenic potential of chemicals. I generated metabolic profiles describing in vitro sample sets provided by collaborating laboratories focussed on liver, kidney and lung cell models. The metabolic profiling is carried out on NMR, GC-MS and UPLC-MS analytical platforms.
NERC Funded Human Toxicological Study in a UK Population (completed).
I was previously involved in a NERC (Natural Environment Research Council) funded project that investigated the toxic effect of heavy metal exposure on human health at environmentally relevant levels at a site in the UK. I used an NMR based metabolic profiling approach to further examine the link between cadmium exposure and renal toxicity. By collaborating with SAHSU at St. Mary’s hospital we have been able to combine well established biomarkers of neuropathy with metabolic profiling. Additionally, collaboration with The Centre of Ecology and Hydrology (Monks Wood) should allow integration of metabonomic data with metal concentrations from soil and other relevant matrices.