We would like to extend a warm welcome to Dr Tom MacVicar, who recently took up a junior group leader position at the Beatson. Tom has joined us from the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing in Cologne to establish his first independent research group here in Glasgow.
Mitochondria form the focus of work in Tom's lab. The group's goal is to understand the mitochondrial changes - in form, function and make-up – that occur during cancer development. The lab will pursue the identification of mitochondrial metabolite transporters and investigate how they aid rewired metabolic demands in support of cancer cell proliferation. Further research will concentrate on the possible translation of these findings into interventional cancer therapeutics.
"I'm delighted to join the Beatson where my team will help drive the discovery and understanding of metabolic vulnerabilities in cancer. Cancer metabolism is a key research theme at the Institute and I'm excited to interact with, and learn from, world-class cancer research groups at the Beatson and University of Glasgow. Our work will also depend on close collaboration with the fantastic research facilities available here."
We are also looking forward to the arrival of Prof Vicky Cowling, who will join the Institute in May. Vicky is relocating her research group to Glasgow from the Centre of Gene Regulation and Expression, University of Dundee.
The Vicky's lab aims to understand how gene expression is regulated in health and disease. In particular, the team is interested in the RNA cap – a structure found on RNAs that not only protects RNA but is also involved in its processing. The group's research investigates RNA cap biochemistry and regulation in development, immune cell activation and following oncogene dysregulation in cancer.
"We are delighted to be moving to the Beatson and becoming part of this vibrant and collaborative community of scientists. Researchers at the Institute are dedicated to making discoveries in human biology and advances in cancer research – we look forward to joining this effort."
