Research in the Murray Group is focussed on the discovery of molecular pathways involved in the development and progression of aggressive cancers derived from blood cells (known as lymphomas) these include the most common form of this disease, called diffuse large B cell lymphoma, a tumour recently defined as one of four haematological cancers with the highest unmet clinical need. Our objective is to better understand the pathogenesis of these malignancies and in doing so develop novel therapeutic approaches. We are particularly interested in the possibility that collagen within the tumour ‘microenvironment’ can cause the cancerous cells to spread around the body and to the central nervous system where they can have devastating consequences. We have already identified novel ways to block collagen and so potentially provide new treatments to cure patients at an earlier stage before the tumour spreads.
Current Research Projects:
- Contribution of collagen signalling to chromosome instability
- Digital spatial profiling of tumour microenvironments
- Novel EBV ‘lytic’ genes in transformation
- Role of CamK1D in the pathogenesis of Hodgkin lymphoma
- Immunity to EBV in associated cancers and lymphoproliferative diseases