Qualifications
- BSc (University of Nottingham)
- MSc (Newcastle University)
- PhD / DPhil (Newcastle University)
Summary
I am a Senior Lecturer in Molecular Genetics in the Hull York Medical School Centre for Biomedicine (Hull) l where I lead the Cancer Epigenetics Team.
I was awarded my Ph.D. in 2012 having worked in the lab of Professor James Allan at Newcastle University studying the molecular genetics of radiation-induced breast cancer.
Prior to my current role I was a post-doctoral research associate in the lab of Dr Luke Gaughan from 2012-2017 studying the role of histone demethylase (HDMs) enzymes in breast cancer. In particular the function of the HDMs KDM4B and KDM3A and their role in estrogen receptor signalling.
My current research continues to investigate the role of epigenetic regulatory enzymes in cancer development and progression, particularly in breast cancer and glioblastoma, in an aim to identify novel therapeutic targets. My current interests lie in 'epi-reader' proteins which recognise and interpret histone modifications in order to control gene expression.
Journal Article
Environmental fluoxetine promotes skin cell proliferation and wound healing
Rodriguez-Barucg, Q., Garcia, A. A., Garcia-Merino, B., Akinmola, T., Okotie-Eboh, T., Francis, T., Bringas, E., Ortiz, I., Wade, M., Dowle, A., Joyce, D. A., Hardman, M. J., Wilkinson, H. N., & Beltran-Alvarez, P. (2024). Environmental fluoxetine promotes skin cell proliferation and wound healing. Environmental pollution, 362, Article 124952. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124952
The Use of Tissue-on-Chip Technology to Focus the Search for Extracellular Vesicle miRNA Biomarkers in Thyroid Disease
Haigh, T., Beattie, H., Wade, M. A., England, J., Kuvshinov, D., Karsai, L., Greenman, J., & Green, V. (2024). The Use of Tissue-on-Chip Technology to Focus the Search for Extracellular Vesicle miRNA Biomarkers in Thyroid Disease. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(1), Article 71. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25010071
Investigating the effects of arginine methylation inhibitors on microdissected brain tumour biopsies maintained in a miniaturised perfusion system
Barry, A., Samuel, S. F., Hosni, I., Moursi, A., Feugere, L., Sennett, C. J., Deepak, S., Achawal, S., Rajaraman, C., Iles, A., Wollenberg Valero, K. C., Scott, I. S., Green, V., Stead, L. F., Greenman, J., Wade, M. A., & Beltran-Alvarez, P. (2023). Investigating the effects of arginine methylation inhibitors on microdissected brain tumour biopsies maintained in a miniaturised perfusion system. Lab on a chip, 23(11), 2664-2682. https://doi.org/10.1039/d3lc00204g
A robust, flow-based, microfluidic device for siRNA-mediated gene knockdown in glioblastoma spheroids
Hosni, I., Iles, A., Greenman, J., & Wade, M. A. (2023). A robust, flow-based, microfluidic device for siRNA-mediated gene knockdown in glioblastoma spheroids. Innovation and Emerging Technologies, 10, Article 2340005. https://doi.org/10.1142/S2737599423400054
The Epigenetic Regulatory Protein CBX2 Promotes mTORC1 Signalling and Inhibits DREAM Complex Activity to Drive Breast Cancer Cell Growth
Bilton, L. J., Warren, C., Humphries, R. M., Kalsi, S., Waters, E., Francis, T., Dobrowinski, W., Beltran-Alvarez, P., & Wade, M. A. (2022). The Epigenetic Regulatory Protein CBX2 Promotes mTORC1 Signalling and Inhibits DREAM Complex Activity to Drive Breast Cancer Cell Growth. Cancers, 14(14), Article 3491. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14143491
Research interests
My research interests are mainly focused on epigenetic mechanisms in cancer, in particular breast and prostate cancer and glioblastoma. I am interested in enzymes which regulate the chemical modification of histones to control chromatin structure and gene expression, and their potential as therapeutic targets to treat cancer.
I also have interests in the molecular genetics of radiation-induced cancer and the development of ex vivo microfluidic platforms as novel therapeutic target validation tools.
Lead investigator
Project
Funder
Grant
Started
Status
Project
The epigenetic regulatory protein CBX2 as a novel therapeutic target for glioblastoma multiform
Funder
Brain Research UK
Grant
£109,580.00
Started
19 September 2022
Status
Ongoing
Project
Investigating the carcinogenic and epigenetic modulating effects of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances in breast cancer development
Funder
Breast Cancer UK
Grant
£99,272.00
Started
1 January 2024
Status
Ongoing
Project
Investigation of chromatin-bound CBX2-associated protein complexes in advanced cancer
Funder
Academy of Medical Sciences
Grant
£99,595.00
Started
1 July 2021
Status
Complete
Co-investigator
Project
Funder
Grant
Started
Status
Project
Help 4 Health MSc studentships (2nd tranche)
Funder
Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust
Grant
£75,000.00
Started
15 February 2025
Status
Ongoing
Postgraduate supervision
There are current opportunities for self-funded PhD students in the area of epigenetic regulation in breast cancer and glioblastoma.