Centre for Cancer Immunology
Scientists in collaboration
We collaborate and partner with scientists throughout the University, working towards finding a cure for cancer.
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Matthew Blunt, Associate ProfessorDr Blunt leads a team of researchers investigating NK cell activation against cancer and is developing novel approaches to enhance antibody efficacy within the tumour microenvironment. -
Simon Crabb, Professor of Experimental Cancer TherapeuticsProf Crabb focuses on the development of precision medicine treatment strategies for urological malignancies. He is chief investigator on clinical trials looking at gene expression profiling for treatment selection for bladder cancer, the use of immunotherapy for urinary tract squamous cell carcinoma and molecularly targeted therapy for prostate cancer.
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Tim Fenton, Professor in Cancer BiologyProf Fenton's group uses a combination of cell biology, in vivo models and computational methods to investigate how elements of innate immune response to viral infection become aberrantly activated in cancer cells. They look at the impact on T-cell mediated responses in solid tumours. He has a particular focus on head and neck cancers.
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Francesco Forconi, Professor of HaematologyProf Forconi aims to understand the immunological mechanisms by which B cells become cancer and how to target their early oncogenic events. His team works on early detection of and therapeutic intervention for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
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Chris Hanley, Associate ProfessorDr Hanley researches the molecular mechanisms that regulate multicellular ecosystems in tissues and how this impacts cancer progression and therapy response. He focuses on lung cancer. He learns how different cells interact within the tumour microenvironment, identifying key drivers of disease progression and new therapeutic strategies.
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Salim Khakoo, Professor of HepatologyProf Khakoo wants to understand how natural killer cells recognise cancer, especially hepatocellular carcinoma. He is working on new strategies to activate natural killer cells for cancer immunotherapy.
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Salah Mansour, Associate ProfessorDr Mansour investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying antigen presentation to unconventional T-cells. He is particularly interested in the roles of CD1 proteins and lipid antigens in T-cell responses to tuberculosis, cancer and autoimmune disease.
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Paul Skipp, Director of the Centre for Proteomic ResearchProf Skipp researches how to use proteomics and other 'omic technologies to address a range of complex biological problems. He works to apply proteomics and develop precision medicine based approaches to better understand diagnosis, stratification and treatment of disease. He also uses immunopeptidomics to identify neopeptides as candidates for cancer vaccine development.
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Jonathan Strefford, Professor of Cancer GenomicsProf Strefford focuses on characterisation of the genetic locus that harbours the low-affinity Fc-gamma receptor genes, encoding crucial proteins in controlling inflammation, response to infection and the efficacy of monoclonal antibody therapies to treat cancer. This furthers the understanding of how these genes are regulated and improves how we manage and treat cancer.
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Gareth Thomas, Chair of Experimental PathologyProf Thomas focuses on the role of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) in shaping the tumour immune microenvironment, particularly the promotion of tumour immune escape. He investigates the molecular mechanisms regulating CAF differentiation and function, characterising CAF phenotypes and interactions with immune cells. This translates clinically into the development of CAF-specific targeted therapies to improve vaccine- and checkpoint-based immunotherapy.
