Group Members

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, joining Dr Clare Davies's lab at the University of Birmingham, which investigates the role of PRMT-catalysed post-translational arginine methylation in cancer. Fiona joined us 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 completed her Biomedical Sciences degree at Monash University, Australia. She joined Prof. Christina Mitchell's lab at Monash 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 her BSc Biomedical Sciences and an MSc Cancer at UCL. The lab experience she gained included the Vanhaesebroeck lab, where her MSc research project involved a screen of possible therapeutics for PTEN Harmatoma Tumour Syndrome (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 gained a BSc Biotechnology in Valencia in 2019, during which he worked in Dr Rosa Farras' oncogenic signalling lab. He then took the MSc Genes, Drugs & Stem Cells at Imperial College London, joining Dr George Poulogiannis' lab (ICR) to explore the metabolic implications of PIK3CA in cancer. 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 has a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from a leading veterinary school in Iran and an MSc Cancer from UCL. His research began in Prof. Vanhaesebroeck's laboratory, where he became Research Technician. His MSc thesis explored the cancer-preventative potential of a PI3K inhibitor in a mouse model of PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome, where he gained experience in in vivo drug testing. He currently works in the PTEN group to explore the potential of PI3K pathway drugs in cancer prevention.

Grace completed her BSc 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. 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 studied the MSc Cancer at UCL, working with the Glioblastoma Research Group for her project. Her dissertation focused on the reintroduction of PTEN to PTEN-null Glioblastoma cell lines in combination with HDAC inhibitor treatment, as an anti-tumour therapy. Harriet joined Cell Signalling in 2024 to provide general technical support to the lab. She also works with the PTEN group, which explores 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 took an MSc at UCLan. His industrial placement at Zeneca investigated the control of gene expression in embryonic stem cells. Projects at the University of Aberdeen included studying the role of macrophages and their cell trafficking to inflamed tissues and the use of gene therapy to alleviate nephritis. He joined the Cell Signalling Group in 2001, working on projects such as studying the effects of genetic or pharmacological PI3K inhibition in models of cancer, immunology & development.

Victoria is a Histopathology Specialist Trainee. After her medical degree, she joined Prof. Flanagan's lab on an Academic Foundation Programme, working to develop a diagnostic test for H3F3A p.Gly34Try mutations in Giant Cell Tumours of Bone. After foundation training, she spent a year exploring circulating tumour DNA in chondrosarcoma and other bone tumours. She holds an Academic Clinical Fellowship and joined the Cell Signalling Group in 2018, working on mouse models of PTEN hamartoma syndrome

Sara obtained the International Student Scholarship to complete her BSc at King Saud University, Riyadh. There, she worked on the formulation of nanocapsules for breast cancer dual therapy. She joined the MRes Drug Design at UCL, during which she worked on the expression and purification of the recombinant protein PNPLA3 whilst analysing problematic crystallographic datasets. Sara began her Marie Curie fellowship in 2021, reviewing the role of activated PI3Kδ mutations in cancer.

Alex completed a PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Southampton. She 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 UCL) as a Research Assistant and Assistant Laboratory Manager. She joined the Cell Signalling Group in 2007 as Lab Manager, combining with CRUK-UCL Centre Manager from 2014-2017. Alex works on various lab projects, including grant management for the group.

Priyanka took her BSc and MSc in India, then a PhD with Prof. Pete Downes and Dr Nick Leslie at Dundee University studying Akt-independent mechanisms of tumour suppression by PTEN. For postdoctoral research, Priyanka worked with Nick Leslie at Heriot Watt studying tumorigenesis in transgenic PTEN mice models. She worked with Prof. Markus Muschen and Dr Elisa Laurenti at Cambridge, then joined the Cell Signalling Group in 2017 to work on therapeutic intervention for PTEN Hamartoma Tumour Syndrome

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.