Immuno Surveillance Laboratory
London Research Institute
Lincoln's Inn Fields Laboratories
Room 504
44 Lincoln's Inn Fields
London WC2A 3PX

Researcher website

Research Goals
To understand how lymphocytes mount tissue immunosurveillance responses that can detect and react to physico-chemical damage at body surfaces, as may be caused by mutagenesis and infection. Knowledge gained from very basic studies and model systems is applied to clinical research and in clinical trials.

Qualifications and Personal History
BA, (Biochemistry) MA, Cambridge; MA Yale; Hon Degree, King's College London; PhD (Virology) Imperial College London.
1982-1985 - Post Doctoral, MIT (with Susumu Tonegawa). Identified mechanisms by which proto-oncogenes are activated by chromosome translocations; cloned cDNAs and genes encoding the T cell receptor alpha and beta chain genes and the unanticipated gamma chain gene.
1985-1998 - Faculty, Yale University. Research into the distinct development and functions of alpha beta and gamma delta T cells; the regulation and roles in lymphocyte development of the c-myc proto-oncogene; generation of novel model systems and novel molecular methods for analyzing T cell development and function. Awarded William Clyde deVane Medal, Yale College's highest Academic Honor. Research Awards from the NIH.
1998- present - King's College London School of Medicine at Guy's Hospital . Identified contribution of gamma delta T cells to immune surveillance of carcinogenesis, and from that established a case for a lymphoid stress-surveillance response. Identified novel molecules and mechanisms underpinning the molecular interactions of epithelial cells and T cells. Commenced human translational research programme built on basic research findings, and participated in ongoing clinical trials of unconventional T cell enhancement in breast and prostate cancer.
2009 - present - Cancer Research UK London Research Institute. Developing novel models to better understand the molecular interactions of epithelial cells and T cells, and its implication in tumour surveillance.