Inaugural Lecture - Professor Thomas Hughes

Cancer treatments are not fully effective, and cancer remains one of the most common causes of death.

Treatments fail in part because the drugs used are often toxic to healthy cells as well as cancer cells, and therefore the side effects that patients suffer limit doses that can be used safely. In addition, cancers can change to become resistant to therapies, meaning they eventually regrow.

I will describe work in which we aim to deliver therapies specifically to cancer cells, thereby sparing healthy cells, and in which we aim to stop cancer cells becoming resistant. Our overall aim is to design novel treatments to improve cancer outcomes.

Biography:

I was born and grew up in Yorkshire. I then went ‘down south’ to study for a degree in natural sciences and a doctorate in cell biology. Next, I worked in laboratories in London, before returning to Yorkshire and starting my own independent research group at the University of Leeds.

At York St John University, I have taken up the new role of Professor of Biosciences, with a remit to expand and develop our biomedical research profile.

My research is focused on the ways in which cancer cells differ from each other within or between patients, and from normal cells. My aim is to use these differences to design novel treatments that work better and have reduced side-effects. My work has mainly been into breast and colorectal cancer, with currently-expanding studies in pancreatic cancer. I’ve published more than 80 scientific articles.

I’m a member of the British Breast Group and the European Network of Breast Development and Cancer, and work on the steering committees of a number of national breast cancer trials. I have active collaborators in India, Egypt, Oman, Norway and Italy.

I have trained numerous post-doctoral researchers and more than 25 doctoral students, and take great pleasure in on-going mentorship of this group, many of whom remain close collaborators and friends.

 

Timings and Refreshments

This event will draw to a close at 7.00pm and will be followed by a drinks reception from 7.00pm - 7.45pm for all those attending.

Venue: De Grey Lecture Theatre, York St John University, Lord Mayor’s Walk, YO31 7EX.

Live streaming available: Book specific ticket for this.