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Benoit Bilanges, PhD - Senior Research Fellow - Class III PI3K biology & signalling
Following his PhD at Montpellier University, France, Benoit carried out postdoctoral studies in David Stokoe’s lab at the UCSF Cancer Institute, San Francisco, USA, where he studied the role of the PI3K/TSC/mTOR pathway and mRNA translation in cancer. After joining the Cell Signalling group, Benoit investigated the role of class III PI3K in vivo and its impact on metabolism. Benoit is currently working on the recently identified PI3Ka activators and their potential therapeutic benefit.
Fiona completed her BSc in Biological Sciences at Cardiff University in 2021. As part of her degree she undertook a Professional Training Year, for which she joined Dr Clare Davies’s lab at the University of Birmingham, which investigates the role of PRMT-catalysed post-translational arginine methylation in cancer. Fiona’s project focused on the RNA regulatory protein FXR1, a PRMT substrate, and its potential role in the regulation of DNA repair. Fiona joined the Cell Signalling group in October 2021 to complete her CRUK-funded PhD, focussing on growing organoids in which to answer questions about the early development of PTEN-mutant lesions.
Sarah Conduit, PhD - Senior Research Fellow - Class I PI3K signalling in cancer and development
Sarah completed her Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (Hons) at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. She joined Prof. Christina Mitchell's lab at Monash University where she obtained her PhD working on an inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase. In 2019, she moved to the Cell Signalling lab supported by a Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellowship to study class I PI3K signalling in primary cilia biology. Sarah is currently a senior research fellow in the Cell Signalling lab working on Class I PI3K isoforms in cancer and development.
Georgia completed a BSc in Biomedical Sciences and later an MSc in Cancer at University College London. During that time she gained experience in a number of laboratories including the Vanhaesebroeck lab where she carried out her MSc research project which involved a screen of possible therapeutics for PTEN Harmatoma Tumour Syndrome (PHTS). After finishing her MSc, Georgia continued to, on a voluntary basis, work alongside Priyanka to work on a therapeutic intervention for PHTS. She officially joined the Cell Signalling group in January 2018, to investigate the effects of various drugs on the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway. Georgia started her CRUK-UCL Centre funded non-clinical PhD studentship in September 2019.
Alberto Collado Remacha - PhD student -Investigating signalling mechanisms of PI3Kalpha
Alberto completed his BSc in Biotechnology (UPV, València), 2019. During that time, he worked in Dr. Rosa Farras’ oncogenic signaling lab (CIPF, València). For his BSc thesis he conducted a pilot study with a novel pH dependent drug in tumorospheres which was granted with honours. Then he enrolled in the MSc ‘Genes, Drugs & Stem Cells’ at Imperial College London and for his MSc thesis he joined Dr. George Poulogiannis’ lab (ICR, London) where the metabolic implications of PIK3CA in cancer gained special interest. The COVID-19 pandemic modified it into a systematic review of literature, obtained with distinction. In 2021 he joined the Cell Signalling group to continue research on PIK3CA signalling.
Amin holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from one of Iran's leading veterinary schools and an MSc in Cancer from UCL. His research career began in Professor Vanhaesebroeck's laboratory, where he joined as Research Technician during his MSc. His thesis explored the cancer-preventative potential of a PI3K inhibitor in a mouse model of PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome, where he developed extensive experience in in vivo drug testing. He is currently working in the PTEN group to explore the potential of PI3K pathway drugs in cancer prevention.
Grace Gong, PhD - Senior Research Fellow - PI3K modulators
Grace completed her BSc Hon degree majoring in Biomedical Science at the University of Auckland. She then worked with Dr. Jack Flanagan, Prof. Peter Shepherd and Dr. Christina Buchanan at the University of Auckland for her PhD majoring in PI3Kalpha drug discovery. Following her PhD in 2017 she worked with Prof. Ming-Wei Wang in the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences for six months on PI3K and SGK drug discovery before joining the Cell Signalling lab in 2018 to work on PI3K modulators.
Harriet Howard - Research Technician
Harriet completed her BSc Biomedical Science Degree and then moved to complete her MSc Cancer Degree at University College London’s Cancer Institute. During her MSc Research Project, she worked with the Glioblastoma Research Group, with her dissertation focusing on the reintroduction of PTEN to PTEN-null Glioblastoma cell lines in combination with HDAC inhibitor treatment, as an anti-tumour therapy. Harriet joined the Cell Signalling group in November 2024 to provide general technical support to the lab. She also works with the PTEN group, which focuses on exploring PI3K pathway drugs in PTEN Hamartoma Tumour Syndrome mouse models for cancer prevention.
Daniele worked at the Centre of Biotechnology of Cardarelli Hospital in Naples, Italy, first as Junior Researcher and later as Research Assistant, focusing mainly on the investigation of the role of HO-1 in the ischaemia/reperfusion process in liver transplantation. He moved to Queen Mary University of London to specialize in animal models and animal management and joined the Cell Signalling group to work on projects involving class III PI3K signalling.
Wayne gained his BSc in studied genetics at the University of Wales, College of Cardiff. He completed an MSc degree at the University of Central Lancashire where his industrial placement at Zeneca Pharmaceuticals investigate the tight control of gene expression in embryonic stem cells. Wayne was involved in various projects at the University of Aberdeen studying the role of macrophages and their cell trafficking to inflamed tissues and the use of gene therapy to alleviate nephritis. After joining the Cell Signalling group at UCL in 2001, Wayne has been involved in many projects, especially studying the effects of genetic or pharmacological PI3K inhibition in models of cancer, immunology and development. Recent projects involve assisting the PTEN group using various therapeutics in genetic models of the PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome (PHTS), a rare human cancer-predisposition condition.
Victoria is a Histopathology Specialist Trainee who gained her medical degree from Leicester University and an intercalated BSc in Haematology from Imperial College London. After graduating from medical school, she obtained an Academic Foundation Programme post and spent her research time at UCL in Professor Flanagan’s lab, working on the development of a diagnostic test for H3F3A p.Gly34Try mutations in Giant Cell Tumours of Bone. Following foundation training she spent a further year in the same lab investigating circulating tumour DNA in chondrosarcoma and other bone tumours. She currently holds an Academic Clinical Fellowship and has been with the cell signalling group since June 2018, to focus on characterising mouse models of PTEN hamartoma syndrome. Victoria started her Clinical PhD studentship in April 2019 funded by Jean Shanks and the Pathological Society on the histological and molecular characteristics of PTEN-driven tumours.
Sara obtained the International Student Scholarship to complete her BSc in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (King Saud University, Riyadh) during which she worked on the formulation of nanocapsules for breast cancer dual therapy. Following that she did her MRes in Drug Design at UCL (2019-2020) and conducted two masters’ projects at the Centre for Inflammation and Tissue Repair on which she worked on the expression and purification of the recombinant protein PNPLA3 while also analysing problematic crystallographic datasets. Sara started her Marie Curie fellowship in October 2021 on understanding the role of activated PI3Kδ mutations in cancer with special interest in novel ways to modulate PI3Kdelta activity.
Alex completed her PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Southampton. She then joined Prof Clare Isacke’s group at Imperial College as a postdoctoral researcher, and moved to the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (at St. Mary’s, and subsequently at UCL) as a Research Assistant and Assistant Laboratory Manager. She joined the Cell Signalling group in 2007 as Laboratory Manager. Since the team’s relocation to UCL, Alex continued in this role, in addition to her position as Cancer Research UK – UCL Centre Manager from 2014 to 2017. Alex works on different projects in the lab, including grant management for the Cell Signalling group.
PriyankaTibarewal, PhD - Senior Research Fellow - Therapeutic intervention for PTEN Hamartoma Tumour Syndrome (PHTS)
Priyanka did her BSc in Biotechnology and MSc in Microbial Gene Technology in India, followed by a PhD with Prof Pete Downes and Dr Nick Leslie at the University of Dundee studying Akt-independent mechanisms of tumour suppression by PTEN. For her post-doctoral research, Priyanka worked with Nick Leslie at Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, studying tumourigenesis in transgenic PTEN mice models . She then joined the Lab of Prof Markus Muschen at the University of Cambridge where she worked on the role of PTEN and PI3K in acute leukemias. She then briefly worked with Dr Elisa Laurenti at the University of Cambridge studying the role of inflammatory cytokines in haematopoietic stem cell function. Priyanka joined the Cell Signalling group in January 2017 to work on therapeutic intervention for PTEN Hamartoma Tumour Syndrome (PHTS).
Admin Support
Nita Khambatta - Senior Institute Administrator
Nita is a Senior Administrator at the UCL Cancer Institute and provides administrative support to the CellSig lab as well as another lab. Nita has worked at UCL since 2016 and joined the Cancer Institute in 2019. Prior to this, she had administrative roles at the London School of Economics and Cancer Research UK.
