Professor Jessica Okosun
Deputy Centre Lead: Haemato-Oncology
Overview
My research focuses on understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms that underlie the initiation and progression of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in order to define clinically-relevant biomarkers.
Team
Dr Pavel Artemov
Postdoctoral Researcher
Dr Findlay Bewicke-Copley
Postdoctoral Researcher
Dr Michael Spencer Chapman
Academic Clinical Lecturer
Dr Tony Chen
Postdoctoral Researcher
Dr Carina Edmondson
Postdoctoral Researcher
Dr Megan Perrett
Postdoctoral Researcher
Lucy Pickard
PhD Student
Dr Donatella Talotta
Postdoctoral Researcher
Research
We are a translational lymphoma biology lab. Our key research questions are to:
- Understand the molecular processes that govern lymphoma initiation
- Characterise intra-tumour heterogeneity and evolution and their role in lymphoma progression
- Define novel disease- and treatment-associated biomarkers that can be translated to clinical practice
To address these questions, we aim to leverage primary lymphoma samples, including from Phase II and III clinical trials, in combination with cutting-edge multi-omic technologies, in vitro models and computational biology approaches.
Key Publications
Impact of MYC and BCL2 double expression on outcomes in primary CNS lymphoma: a UK multicenter analysis. Blood Advances. (2024) Apr 9;8(7):1772-1775. PMID: 38039509
Genomic Profiling Reveals Spatial Intra-Tumor Heterogeneity in Follicular Lymphoma. Leukemia (2018) 32(5):1258-1263. PMID: 29568095
Recurrent mTORC1-activating RRAGC mutations in follicular lymphoma. Nature Genetics (2016) 48(2):183-8. PMID: 26691987
Integrated genomic analysis identifies recurrent mutations and evolution patterns driving the initiation and progression of follicular lymphoma. Nature Genetics (2014) 46(2):176-81. PMID: 24362818
See recent publicationsMajor Funding
- 2025-2030 – Blood Cancer UK, Transformational Research Award, Co-PI, Science Lead
- 2025-2027 – Institute for Follicular Lymphoma Innovation, Innovation award, PI
- 2024-2026 – Astra Zeneca Grant award, PI
- 2023-2030 – Cancer Research UK-Genmab, Clinical Trial Award, Co-I, Science Lead – REFRACT trial
- 2023-2026 – Lymphoma Research Foundation (US), Priority Research Grant, Co-PI
- 2023-2025 – Astra Zeneca Scholar Award, Co-PI
- 2023-2029 – Cancer Research UK, Clinical Trial Award, Co-I, Science Lead – OptiMATe trial
- 2022-2025 – BeiGene, Investigator Initiated Trial Award, Co-I, Science Lead – PRIZM+ trial
Other Activities
- Reviewer Committee, German Cancer Aid – Translational Oncology (Germany)
- Scientific Advisory Board, Lymph&Co (Netherlands)
- QMUL Clinical Lead, CRUK City of London Clinical Academic Training Programme
- Clinical Research Committee, Cancer Research UK (UK)
- Research Committee, European Haematology Association
- Associate Editor, Haematologica (covering Lymphoma)
- International Advisory Board, Lancet Haematology
Biography
I graduated in medicine from the University of Cambridge and subsequently undertook my medical and specialty haematology training in London. My research interest in lymphoma biology was developed during my Kay Kendall funded Clinical Research Fellowship with Professor Jude Fitzgibbon at the Barts Cancer Institute where I investigated the genetic heterogeneity and tumour evolution underlying follicular lymphoma and its progression. I was awarded the Royal College of Pathologists Specialty Research Medal for this work. In 2017, I was selected as a scholar of the prestigious ASH-EHA Translational Research Training in Haematology (TRTH) program in 2018 and returned to the Barts Cancer Institute as a Cancer Research UK-funded Clinician Scientist to establish my own group. I am also a practising Consultant Haemato-Oncologist at St Bartholomew’s Hospital. I lead several of the translational science programs on UK lymphoma clinical trials.
Appointments
2023-present: Professor of Translational Cancer Research
2017-2023: Clinical Senior Lecturer
2011-2015: Kay Kendall Clinical Research Fellow, Barts Cancer Institute
Qualifications
2015: PhD, Queen Mary University of London
2011: FRCPath, Royal College of Pathologists
2008: MRCP, Royal College of Physicians
2004: MB BChir, University of Cambridge
2002: BA (Hons) Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge
Related News
Driving Discoveries for Tomorrow’s Cancer Care
Today, on World Cancer Day, we’re sharing a new film. Join us as we go behind the scenes at Barts Cancer Institute (BCI), Queen Mary University of London and meet the people who are making progress possible.
Video 4 February 2026
Lymphomas: Perspectives from bench and bedside
We recently spoke with Dr Jessica Okosun about her work as a clinical researcher working on lymphoma. Find out about her motivations for becoming a clinical researcher and her work on blood cancers.
General News 15 October 2019
Follicular lymphoma marked by spatial tumour heterogeneity
A research team at the BCI, Queen Mary University of London, led by Dr Jessica Okosun, Centre for Haemato-Oncology, has found that tumours at different sites within the same patient with follicular lymphoma can be genetically diverse. This suggests that a sole biopsy is incapable of capturing all the genetic events in any given individual and presents a significant challenge when providing targeted therapies to treat this disease.
General News 23 March 2018