My research is focused on the links between cancer and inflammation, being especially interested in translating knowledge of cancer biology into new biological treatments for cancer and in the role that inflammatory cytokines play in cancer promotion.
Deconstruction of a Metastatic Tumor Microenvironment Reveals a Common Matrix Response in Human Cancers. Cancer Discov (2018) 8(3):304-319. PMID: 29196464
A CCR4 antagonist reverses the tumor-promoting microenvironment of renal cancer. J Clin Invest (2017) 127(3):801-813. PMID: 28134623
A strong B cell response is part of the immune landscape in human high-grade serous ovarian metastases. Clin Cancer Res (2016) 23(1):250-262. PMID: 27354470
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy modulates the immune microenvironment in metastases of tubo-ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma. Clinical Cancer Research (2016) 22(12):3025-36. PMID: 27306793
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:
Immune mechanisms of resistance to cediranib in ovarian cancer. Gopinathan G, Berlato C, Lakhani A et al. Mol Cancer Ther (2022) (2)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35313341
Building in vitro 3D human multicellular models of high-grade serous ovarian cancer Malacrida B, Pearce OMT, Balkwill FR STAR Protocols (2022) 3(7)
Harnessing cytokines and chemokines for cancer therapy Propper DJ, Balkwill FR Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology (2022) (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
Stromal cells promote matrix deposition, remodelling and an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment in a 3d model of colon cancer Leonard NA, Reidy E, Thompson K et al. Cancers (2021) 13(7)
Tgfbi production by macrophages contributes to an immunosuppressive microenvironment in ovarian cancer Lecker LSM, Berlato C, Maniati E et al. Cancer Research (2021) 81(7) 5706-5719
A human multi-cellular model shows how platelets drive production of diseased extracellular matrix and tissue invasion Malacrida B, Nichols S, Maniati E et al. iScience (2021) 24(7)
Modelling TGFβR and Hh pathway regulation of prognostic matrisome molecules in ovarian cancer Delaine-Smith RM, Maniati E, Malacrida B et al. iScience (2021) 24(7)
Chemotherapy induces tumor-associated macrophages that aid adaptive immune responses in ovarian cancer Heath O, Berlato C, Maniati E et al. Cancer Immunology Research (2021) 9(7) 665-681
Cells are Us – combining research and public engagement Balkwill FR Nature Reviews Cancer (2021) 21(7) 277-278
For additional publications, please click herePostdoctoral Researchers in this group
Dr Eleni Maniati, Dr Ganga Gopinathan, Dr Chiara Berlato, Dr Florian Laforêts, Dr Beatrice Malacrida, Dr Panoraia Kotantaki
Clinical Research Fellows
Dr Owen Heath
PhD Students
Priyankaa Goordyal, Joash Joy, Laura Lecker
Research Technician
Sam Nichols
BSU Technician
Colin Pegrum
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.