Research

I am Professor of Cancer Biology at Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, where I am Deputy Centre Lead for the Centre for Tumour Microenvironment. I study the links between cancer and inflammation and research ways of translating this to clinical trial.

My key research areas of interest are:

• The tumour microenvironment with an especial focus on innate immune reactions
• Development of novel multi-cellular models of the tumour microenvironment
• Ovarian cancer with a focus on high grade serous and clear cell subtypes
• Public engagement with biomedical science and science policy

Other Activities

• Director of Centre of the Cell
• Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST), Non-Parliamentary Board Member
• ERC Starter grants panel membership
• Deputy Chair of CRUK Clinical Trials Committee
• Trustee of Blood Cancer UK
• Academy of Medical Sciences Daniel Turnberg Fellowship Panel

Major Funding

• 2022-2027- UKRI grant, REMODEL, remodelling cancer microenvironments, £2,154,257
• 2018-2023- Cancer Research UK, Targeting the innate immune system in high-grade serous ovarian cancer, £2,000,000 (approx.)
• 2018-2023- Cancer Research UK, Targeting the innate immune system in high grade serous ovarian cancer, £1,924,190.43
• 2017-2019- Cancer Research UK, Targeting the peritoneal tumour microenvironment of high grade serous ovarian cancer, £1,652,914.00
• 2016-2019- Wellcome Trust, The effects of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy on myleoid cells in high-grade serous ovarian cancer metastases, £313,427.00
• 2013-2018- Commission of the European Community, CANBUILD-Building a Human Tumour Microenvironment, £1,763,279.00
• 2013-2017- Medimmune Ltd, Establish PD response of combinations of chemotherapeutic agents and anti-PD-L1 antibodies, £299,870.00
• 2013-2016- Cancer Research UK, Targeting the peritoneal tumour microenvironment of high grade serous ovarian cancer, £1,583,024.00
• 2012-2015- Gilead Sciences Ltd, Testing therapeutic potential of Gilead compound GS-9820, £250,610.00
• 2012-2016- Commission of the European Community, Tumor Infiltrating Myeloid Cell Compartment  (TIMCC), £430,060.00

Recent Publications

Promoting Diverse Youth’s Career Development through Informal Science Learning: The Role of Inclusivity and Belonging Zhao M, Mathews CJ, Mulvey KL et al. Journal of Youth and Adolescence (2023) 52(7) 331-343

Gender Stereotypes and Peer Selection in STEM Domains Among Children and Adolescents McGuire L, Hoffman AJ, Mulvey KL et al. Sex Roles (2022) 87(7) 455-470

The Tumor Microenvironment of Clear-Cell Ovarian Cancer Devlin MJ, Miller R, Laforets F et al. Cancer Immunology Research (2022) 10(7) 1326-1339

A Therapeutically Actionable Protumoral Axis of Cytokines Involving IL-8, TNFα and IL-1β Olivera I, Sanz-Pamplona R, Bolaños E et al. Cancer Discovery (2022) 12(7) 2140-2157

Abstract 693: TGFβ-mediated targeting of the extracellular matrix enhances the migration and cytotoxicity of CAR-T cells in 3D models of ovarian cancer Joy JD, Malacrida B, Laforêts F et al. Cancer Research (2022) 82(10) 693-693

Immune Mechanisms of Resistance to Cediranib in Ovarian Cancer Gopinathan G, Berlato C, Lakhani A et al. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics (2022) 21(7) 1030-1045

Loss of mTORC2-induced metabolic reprogramming in monocytes uncouples migration and maturation from production of proinflammatory mediators Jangani M, Vuononvirta J, Yamani L et al. Journal of Leukocyte Biology (2022) 111(7) 967-980

Harnessing cytokines and chemokines for cancer therapy Propper DJ, Balkwill FR Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology (2022) 19(7) 237-253

Building in vitro 3D human multicellular models of high-grade serous ovarian cancer Malacrida B, Pearce OMT, Balkwill FR STAR Protocols (2022) 3(7)

Impact of Youth and Adult Informal Science Educators on Youth Learning at Exhibits McGuire L, Hoffman AJ, Mulvey KL et al. Visitor Studies (2022) 25(7) 41-59

Team

Postdoctoral Researchers in this group
Dr Eleni Maniati, Dr Ganga Gopinathan, Dr Florian Laforêts, Dr Beatrice Malacrida, Dr Panoraia Kotantaki, Dr Joash Joy

Clinical Research Fellows
Dr Owen Heath

PhD Students
Priyankaa Goordyal, Laura Lecker

Research Technician
Sam Nichols

BSU Technician
Colin Pegrum

Biography

In 2006, I was made a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, being elected a member of its Council later in the same year. I am a frequent plenary and keynote speaker at international meetings, such as Gordon and Keystone conferences and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).

I am also actively involved in communication of science to non-specialist audiences, especially young people. I have written thirteen science books for children on cell and molecular biology, with titles such as Enjoy Your Cells and The Egg and Sperm Race.

I am the Director of the Centre of the Cell, a biomedical science centre for children, educational website, and widening participation and outreach project in Whitechapel. The website was launched in March 2007 and the physical Centre opened in September 2009. As of July 2017 there have been over 171,000 participants in Centre of the Cell activities (www.centreofthecell.org).

I am a non-parliamentary board member of the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, POST and a Trustee of Bloodwise. I was awarded an OBE in the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours list. In 2015 I was made a Doctor of Science honoris causa by the University of Bristol and in 2017 was awarded the Cancer Research UK Inspiring Leadership in Research Engagement Prize.