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
• Deputy Chair of CRUK Clinical Research Committee
• Chair of Prostate Cancer UK Research Advisory Committee (until end of 2025)
• Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancers Committee member (AACR)
• Royal Society Leverhulme Trust Committee member
• Royal Society Summer Exhibition Committee member

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

Investigating the impact of London’s ultra low emission zone on children’s health: children’s health in London and Luton (CHILL) protocol for a prospective parallel cohort study Tsocheva I, Scales J, Dove R et al. BMC Pediatrics 23(10) 556

CD73 controls Myosin II–driven invasion, metastasis, and immunosuppression in amoeboid pancreatic cancer cells Samain R, Maiques O, Monger J et al. Science Advances (2023) 9(10) eadi0244

Reciprocal Associations Between Science Efficacy, STEM Identity and Scientist Career Interest Among Adolescent Girls within the Context of Informal Science Learning Zhao M, Ozturk E, Law F et al. Journal of Youth and Adolescence (2024) 53(10) 472-484

Interferon epsilon and ovarian cancer Elorbany S, Malacrida B, Balkwill F Trends in Cancer (2023) 9(10) 985-986

Children's and adolescents’ evaluations of wealth‐related STEM inequality McGuire L, Marlow C, Hoffman AJ et al. Social Development (2024) 33(10)

Correction: A role for macrophages under cytokine control in mediating resistance to ADI-PEG20 (pegargiminase) in ASS1-deficient mesothelioma Phillips MM, Pavlyk I, Allen M et al. Pharmacological Reports (2023) 75(10) 753-753

Device-Measured Change in Physical Activity in Primary School Children During the UK COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown: A Longitudinal Study Scales J, Chavda J, Ikeda E et al. Journal of Physical Activity and Health (2023) 20(10) 639-647

Abstract LB195: Immunotherapies that repolarize macrophages and CD4 T cells enhance the effect of chemotherapy in high-grade serous ovarian cancer Elorbany S, Berlato C, Carnevalli L et al. Cancer Research (2023) 83(10) lb195-lb195

The impact of pericytes on the stability of microvascular networks in response to nanoparticles Dibble M, Di Cio’ S, Luo P et al. Scientific Reports 13(10) 5729

Abstract 4551: Reconstructing the metastatic tumor microenvironment of high grade serous ovarian cancer: understanding the contribution of malignant cells Malacrida B, Elorbany S, Maniati E et al. Cancer Research (2023) 83(10) 4551-4551

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.