Dr Barbara Guinn

Dr Barbara Guinn

Reader in Biomedical Sciences

Faculty and Department

  • Faculty of Health Sciences
  • Hull York Medical School

Qualifications

  • FHEA (University of Hull)
  • BSc (Aberystwyth University)
  • PhD / DPhil (Cardiff University)

Summary

I am a Reader in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Hull. I have a BSc Genetics from University of Aberyswyth (1991) and a PhD from the University of Wales College of Medicine Cardiff (1995). I then worked at the University of Toronto as a postdoctoral fellow and started my own research group at King's College London in 1999.

I am interested in identifying targets for immunotherapy (where the immune system is stimulated to kill diseased cells) but we have also realised that disease-specific proteins can provide insights into the biology of disease and biomarkers for disease stage and survival.

Currently we are looking for identifying and validating biomarkers for the detection, and antigenic targets for the targeted therapy, of acute leukaemia, ovarian cancer and endometriosis.

Undergraduate - BSc Programmes

- Skills for Biomedical & Forensic Scientists (1st Year)

- Professional and Research Skills for Biomedical & Forensic Scientists (2nd Year)

- Current Topics in Forensic Science (3rd Year: Module lead)

- Human Genetics (3rd Year)

- Final Year Independent Projects (3rd Year)

Postgraduate - MSc Programmes

- Independent Research Projects for MSc Biomedical Sciences

- Current Topics (Module Lead)

Recent outputs

View more outputs

Journal Article

Adult B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia Antigens and Enriched Pathways Identify New Targets for Therapy

Mohamed, E., Goodman, S., Cooksey, L., Fletcher, D. M., Dean, O., Boncheva, V. B., Mills, K. I., Orchard, K. H., & Guinn, B.-A. (2025). Adult B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia Antigens and Enriched Pathways Identify New Targets for Therapy. Onco, 5(2), Article 19. https://doi.org/10.3390/onco5020019

Are There Non-Invasive Biomarker(s) That Would Facilitate the Detection of Ovarian Torsion? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Naylor, M., Doherty, G., Draper, H., Fletcher, D. M., Rigby, A., Adedipe, T., & Guinn, B. A. (2024). Are There Non-Invasive Biomarker(s) That Would Facilitate the Detection of Ovarian Torsion? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(21), Article 11664. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252111664

Immunotherapeutic Potential of Mutated NPM1 for the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Greiner, J., Mohamed, E., Fletcher, D. M., Schuler, P. J., Schrezenmeier, H., Götz, M., & Guinn, B. A. (2024). Immunotherapeutic Potential of Mutated NPM1 for the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancers, 16(20), Article 3443. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16203443

Cancer screening attendance rates in transgender and gender-diverse patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Chan, A., Jamieson, C., Draper, H., O'Callaghan, S., & Guinn, B. A. (online). Cancer screening attendance rates in transgender and gender-diverse patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjebm-2023-112719

Can tumour antigens act as biomarkers for the early detection of non-small cell lung cancer?

Mohamed, E., Fletcher, D., Hart, S., & Guinn, B.-A. (2024). Can tumour antigens act as biomarkers for the early detection of non-small cell lung cancer?. Onco, 4(2), 87-100. https://doi.org/10.3390/onco4020008

Research interests

My research interests focus around antigen identification reflecting my own background in genetics, immunology and cancer research. We use a range of techniques to identify and characterise antigens including SEREX, proto-arrays, gene expression arrays, RNA-seq, qPCR and pMHC arrays.

I am particularly interested in identifying new biomarkers for difficult to diagnose diseases such as ovarian cancer and endometriosis.

Lead investigator

Project

Funder

Grant

Started

Status

Project

Development of a sensitive test for endometriosis

Funder

Anonymous Sponsor

Grant

£284,947.00

Started

1 April 2024

Status

Ongoing

Project

Endometriosis and bleeding disorders: detection of endometriosis and identification of new treatment strategies

Funder

The Haemophilia Society

Grant

£4,000.00

Started

1 September 2024

Status

Ongoing

Project

HIKE: Development of a non-invasive urine test to detect ovarian cancer

Funder

Medical Research Council

Grant

£14,184.92

Started

11 April 2025

Status

Ongoing

Project

Impact of CO2 on antigen expression: new ways to induce immune responses against cancer?’

Funder

FRAME

Grant

£1,950.00

Started

1 July 2019

Status

Complete

Project

Article Processing Costs

Funder

Breakthrough Cancer Research

Grant

£1,800.00

Started

1 April 2021

Status

Complete

Project

Using art to raise awareness of endometriosis

Funder

The Bay Gallery

Grant

£146.00

Started

1 June 2021

Status

Complete

Project

Characterisation of a urine biomarker for the earlier detection of endometriosis

Funder

Novosanis

Grant

£21,270.00

Started

1 August 2021

Status

Complete

Project

Development of a cell line that represents early stage ovarian cancer

Funder

FRAME

Grant

£14,616.74

Started

1 January 2022

Status

Complete

Project

Identification of biomarkers for the earlier detection and targets for the immunotherapy of endometriosis

Funder

British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy

Grant

£3,000.00

Started

1 January 2022

Status

Complete

Project

Effect of preservative on urine analysis

Funder

Novosanis

Grant

£3,015.48

Started

1 December 2021

Status

Complete

Project

Identification of targets for the therapy of epithelial ovarian cancer

Funder

Academy of Medical Sciences

Grant

£1,406.00

Started

1 March 2022

Status

Complete

Project

Equipment - orbital shaker

Funder

The Rotary Foundation

Grant

£250.00

Started

1 August 2022

Status

Complete

Project

HIKE: Development of a commercial urine test for the earlier detection of endometriosis

Funder

Medical Research Council

Grant

£54,915.00

Started

1 July 2023

Status

Complete

Project

Funding for Alice Fearn to attend the EACR annual conference

Funder

FRAME

Grant

£1,022.24

Started

1 June 2023

Status

Complete

Postgraduate supervision

Dr Guinn welcomes applications from students who want to study postgraduate research degrees (MSc by Research, MD(Res) or PhD) in the Centre for Biomedicine, Hull York Medical School. My group is particularly interested in difficult to diagnose and/or treat diseases. Currently this includes acute leukaemias, ovarian cancer and endometriosis, and has led to the identification of biomarkers for disease diagnosis, stratification and prognosis, targets for therapies and improved our understanding of the biological basis of disease.

For more information about possible projects please contact barbara.guinn@hyms.ac.uk

Current Postgraduate Research students:-

Hikmat Sulayman

Arooj Cheema

Behnoosh (Bernadette) Bahadori Jahromi

Sarah Campbell

Wioletta Dolinska - Writing-up

Danny Fletcher - Writing-up

Submitted/corrections

- Daiga Spore (2024) Comparison of T cell activation requirements between blood and solid cancers reveal bias in T cell memory differentiation. MSc by Research. Minor Corrections.

Completed MD/PhD students

- Hannah Draper (2024) Novel urinary biomarkers for the non-invasive detection of endometriosis. MD, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull.

- Leah Cooksey (2024) Hypoxic regulation of the molecular mechanisms that contribute to the development of endometriosis. PhD, University of Hull.

- Eithar Mohamed (2023) Identification of tumour antigens that may facilitate effective cancer detection and treatment. PhD, University of Hull.

- Kelly Grayson (2023) Investigating Synovial Sarcoma, X breakpoint proteins in ovarian cancer. PhD, University of Hull.

- Holly Wilkinson (2019) Exploring the role of metals and senescence in cutaneous wound healing. PhD, University of Hull.

- Sarah Edge (2019) Investigating the role of miRNA-187 and the downstream PI3K signalling pathway in modulating radiation sensitivity in oesophageal adenocarcinoma. PhD, University of Hull.

- Fidelia Bature (2017) Patterns of signs and symptoms preceding Alzheimer’s Disease diagnosis: A cross sectional study. PhD, University of Bedfordshire.

- Ghazala Khan (2016) Characterisation of the expression of biomarkers and tumour antigens in ovarian cancer and myeloid leukaemia. PhD, University of Bedfordshire.

- Emma Buick (2016) The loss of PI3K C2a is associated with a heightened immune response. PhD, University of Bedfordshire.

- Nicola Hardwick (2008) Pre-clinical evaluation of immunotherapy for acute myeloid leukaemia with PASD1 peptide vaccination and autologous whole cell vaccines. PhD, King's College London.

- Adam T.C. Cheuk (2005) Immunogene therapy of murine and human acute myeloid leukaemia using costimulatory molecules: A comparison of the efficacy of B7-1, B7-2 and 4-1BBL. PhD, King's College London.

Completed Masters (MPhil and MSc by Research) Students

- Alice Fearn (2023) Development of a cell line model of epithelial ovarian cancer using immortalised fallopian tube cells. MSc by Research, University of Hull.

- Elliott Brown (2022) Identification of the molecular pathways involved in paediatric and adult acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). MSc by Research, University of Hull.

- Sara Goodman (2020) Identification of novel tumour antigens in adults with B-cell acute lymphocytic leukaemia. MSc by Research, University of Hull.

- Chloe Warren (2019) Investigating the role of CBX2 in models of triple negative breast cancer. MSc by Research, University of Hull.

- Stephanie Jordaens (2019) Analysis of the expression of antigens in adult B-cell acute lymphocytic leukaemia. Erasmus + between University of Hull and University of Antwerp.

- Leah Cooksey (2018) Identification of novel tumour antigens for the immunotherapy of B-cell acute lymphocytic leukaemia. MSc by Research, University of Hull.

- Laurie Freire Boullosa (2017) Characterisation of the expression of novel antigens in adult B-acute lymphocytic leukaemia. Erasmus + between University of Hull and University of Antwerp.

- Viktoriya Boncheva, MPhil (2014) The identification of tumour antigens recognised by patients with Dukes’ B reactive colorectal cancers. MPhil, University of Bedfordshire.

- Hans Vergauwen (2011) Optimisation of the pMHC array for the identification of leukaemia-associated antigen-specific T cells in leukaemia patients. Erasmus + between University of Southampton & University of Antwerp.

- Frances Denniss (2006) The protein expression of two leukaemia associated antigens in AML: PASD1 and SSX2IP and the potential as targets for immunotherapy. King’s College London.

Charity role

Trustee of EndoBuddies

2023 - 2024

EndoBuddies provides hundreds of care packages that have either been given out on Surgery days or posted to people in desperate need of a little bit of love and support. They are currently being handed out on Surgery days at the Endometriosis Specialist Centre at Castle Hill Hospital, Cedar ward at Hull Royal Infirmary, and we also post them out across the country too.

Raising money for Endometriosis Research at the University of Hull

2021

I have been raising money for Endometriosis Research @UniOfHull through plant and original art sales (of my Mum's artwork which she has donated to me for this cause), as well as through donations from the public following public engagement.

Cancer Research U.K. Ambassador

2007

Committee/Steering group role

Endometriosis Research Priority Setting

2025 - 2025

World Endometriosis Society (WES) and World Endometriosis Research Foundation (WERF) will hold the next Endometriosis Research Priority Setting Session (in-person) on May 25 2025 following the World Congress on Endometriosis (WCE2025) in Sydney. The previous iteration of the research priorities (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27368878/) underwent revision at WCE2017. A literature review has been updated by WES Early Career Ambassadors, based on which the research priorities have been reworded and consolidated to a list of 55 priorities. Based on my experience/work in endometriosis, I and other experts in the field are rating these 55 priorities and these responses will be collated and used to guide the discussions at the session on May 25 in Sydney.

Endometriosis UK Networking Group - Liverpool (2024), Dundee (2025)

2024

Member of the Endometriosis UK Networking Group which meets at least once a year to present data, exchange ideas, foster collaborations and share reagents.

Conference organisation

PIVAC23: Session chair: Cancer Biomarkers for Prognosis and Prediction (Part II)

2023

Expert Reviewer for 25th Congress of the European Haematology Association

2020 - 2020

Session Chair at 6th Symposium on Advances in Cancer Immunotherapy: Tumor Immunology (I)

2020

Conference presentation

Best Practise in Non-Animal Research Methods Conference Speaker, York, UK

2025 - 2025

Delivered a talk titled 'A cell line model of early ovarian cancer' at the Best Practise in Non-Animal Research Methods Conference. Organised by Replacing Animal Research, The Humane Research Trust CIO and Centre for Human Specific Research.

Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists - Bell Blair Academic Conference

2025 - 2025

Oral Presentation 'Development of a urine test that can differentiate deep from superficial endometriosis' by Wiseman L, Draper H, Cooksey L, Fletcher D, Huang C, Phillips K, Ryan N, Hapangama D, Cunningham K, Allen J & Guinn BA. Poster presentations Do mitochondria in epithelial oral mucosa cells from patients with endometriosis differ to those from health volunteers' by Campbell S, Allen J, Cunningham K, Urquhart C, Howell Bray T, Guinn BA . Does glycolysis and hypoxia contribute to endometriosis: a systematic literature review ' by Boakye C, Wilkins T, Gunton R, Cooksey L, Grey E, Guinn BA.

Invited Speaker at the UK Endometriosis Network Meeting, Liverpool, UK

2024 - 2024

Invited Speaker at PIVAC23 in Athens, Greece

2023

Invited Speaker at “The 22nd International Conference on Progress in Vaccination Against Cancer” (PIVAC-23) which was held from 28th –30th September 2023 in Athens, Greece. PIVAC 23 aims to bring together scientists working on translational and clinical cancer research for three days of presentations on the most recent advances in these fields including (i) immunotherapies (cellular, immune checkpoint blockade, vaccines); (ii) innate immunity and tumor control; (iii) host- tumor interactions in the tumor microenvironment; (iv) in vitro and in vivo models for cancer immunotherapies (v) combinational cancer therapy approaches; and (vi) prognostic and predictive biomarkers in tumors and immune cells.

Invited speaker at 6th Symposium on Advances in Cancer Immunotherapy, Athens, Greece

2020

Τhe Hellenic Society of Immuno-Oncology organized the “6th Symposium on Advances in Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy” that was held on December 3-5, 2020 online through a special platform. The main objectives was to gather, share and exchange experiences and ideas, translate and extend this knowledge to the clinic, promote interactions between speakers and participants and encourage stimulating discussions, provide network opportunities and stimulate new collaborations.

Invited Speaker at the 3rd Summer School in Immuno-Oncology, Larissa, Greece, organized by the Hellenic Society of Immuno-Oncology.

2020

Invited speaker at the 5th Symposium on Advances in Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy, Athens, Greece.

2019

Invited speaker at PIVAC-19 in Athens, Greece

2019

External examiner role

External examiner for MSc Medical Molecular Biology with Genetics and MRes in Molecular Medicine - University of Bangor

2021 - 2025

External Examiner for BSc Biomedical Science - Queen's University Belfast

2021 - 2025

External Assessor for BSc Biomedical Sciences - Aberystwyth University

2019 - 2019

External Examiner to BSc/MSci Biomedical Sciences - Newcastle University

2017 - 2021

Journal editorial role

Guest Editor of the Special Issue on 'Molecular Mechanisms underlying, and Therapies targeting, Acute Myeloid Leukaemia II' in International Journal of Molecular Sciences

2022 - 2022

Review Editor for Frontiers in Oncology

2022

Guest Editor of the Special Issue on 'Molecular Mechanisms underlying, and Therapies targeting, Acute Myeloid Leukaemia' in International Journal of Molecular Sciences

2021 - 2021

This special issue will focus on the identification and characterisation of the molecular mechanisms that underlie AML pathogenesis and new targets for the therapy of this rare and heterogenous disease.

Associate Editor, Journal of Translational Medicine

2020 - 2023

Role includes assessing manuscripts in the field of Translational Hematology, guiding them through the peer review process and ensuring they adhere to the ethos, editorial standards, policies and scope of the journal.

Editor-in-Chief Biomarkers in Cancer

2008 - 2019

Membership/Fellowship of professional body

Member of the Biochemical Society

2024 - 2025

Member of the NC3Rs new approach methodologies (NAMs) network

2024

The NAMs Network is a community of researchers, developers and industry and regulatory end-users working together to accelerate the use of new approach methodologies.

Member of the Society for Reproduction and Fertility

2024

European Association for Cancer Research (EACR)

2021

Member of the World Endometriosis Society (WES)

2020

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)

2019

Member of the Higher Education Academy since 2011 2011 AHEA 2012 FHEA 2019 SFHEA

Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (FRSB)

2014 - 2022

Fellow of the Higher Education Association (FHEA)

2012 - 2019

Associate of the Higher Education Academy (AHEA)

2011 - 2012

Genetics Society

1990

National/International learned society/body role

International Faculty, Progress in Vaccines Against Cancer (PIVAC)

2024

Research assessment service

External referee for KWF Kankerbestrijding – Dutch Cancer Society (DCS)

2024

Grant Review for Swiss National Science Foundation

2023 - 2023

Evaluation of a grant proposal for the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)

Grant Review - Bart's Charity

2023 - 2023

Grant Review - UKRI

2023 - 2023

Grant Review X 2 - Medical Research Council

2023

Grant review for World Cancer Research Fund International

2022 - 2022

Reviewed a grant for World Cancer Research Fund International

Grant reviewer for Leukaemia UK

2022 - 2022

Grant Reviewer - Cancer Research Trust NZ

2021 - 2021

Grant reviewer for the Cancer Research Trust NZ

Grant Reviewer for the Belgium Foundation Against Cancer

2021

Scientific Expert Reviewer for the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA)

2020

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