Oxford Prostate Cancer Biology Group

The Prostate Cancer Biology Group focusses on metabolic pathways, spatial clonal biology, and developing multiplexed models to facilitate more accurate study of prostate cancer lethality.

Prostate cancer emerges from the cross-talk between genomic alterations, metabolic dysregulation and adaptive changes in the tumour micro-environment. In metastatic disease some genomic drivers have been identified but in order to more effectively risk stratify localised disease and treat high-risk disease effectively, it is important to fully characterise at a cellular and molecular level. As a translational lab comprising basic scientists and clinician scientists, we are addressing this challenge using spatial methods and clinical material to refine the pre-clinical models and target pathways that we focus on scientifically. Many of these pathways are regarded as enabling biologies, supporting cell survival under metabolic and oncogenic stress. Examples include the unfolded protein response and glycosylation. Our work on patient samples focuses on the in-depth profiling of small numbers of patient samples and we exemplify and validate our findings by participating in multi-institutional consortia (e.g., PPCG) and utilising large cohorts with long-term follow-up.

Areas of Research

Metabolic pathways and the unfolded protein response

Spatial clonal biology

Glycosylation and OGlcNAc transferase

PhenoCycler Multiplex Imaging

We welcome enquiries regarding our programme of work and possible positions in the group.

Funding

Our work is supported by grants from the Rosetrees Trust, CRIS Cancer Foundation, Larry Leeds, Eustace Wolfington, John Black Charitable Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Prostate Cancer UK, The Hanson Research Trust and the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

Our team

Ian Mills

John Black Professor of Prostate Cancer, Interim Head of Department, Group Leader
Dimitrios Doultsinos

PCF Young Investigator (class of 2022) Research Fellow
Reema Singh

Postdoctoral Research Associate
Ninu Poulose

Postdoctoral Research Associate
Anette Magnussen

Senior Research Associate
Sandy Figiel

Postdoctoral Researcher
Renuka Teague

Tissue Handling Technician - biobanking
Sophia Marie Abusamra

DPhil Student
Thineskrishna Anbarasan

Academic Clinical Fellow