Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Accept all cookies Reject all non-essential cookies Find out more
Eileen Parkes

Contact information


eileen.parkes@oncology.ox.ac.uk


01865 617411

Research groups

Eileen Parkes

MB BCh, Ba(O) (Hons), MRCP (Onc), PhD

Associate Professor, Innate tumour immunology

  • Consultant Medical Oncologist, Early Phase Trials

RESEARCH SUMMARY

  • Understand resistance mechanisms to immune-targeting treatments in cancer;
  • Characterise the role of the interaction of chromosomal instability and DNA repair deficiency with immune activation in tumour initiation, progression and response.
  • Study tumour microenvironment, fibroblasts and extracellular matrix in chromosomally unstable cancers.


In the Parkes Lab we study intrinsic inflammatory pathways in cancer. These are important immune pathways, present in all cells, that act as emergency response pathways to viral infection. However, in cancer, these pathways can be rewired and hijacked by the tumour to promote growth, invasion and metastasis.

BIOGRAPHY

Dr Parkes was the first to describe constitutive innate immune signalling in BRCA1/2 mutant cancers activating cGAS-STING signalling. This work has subsequently led to a clinical trial investigating a biomarker for BRCA1/2 deficiency in breast cancer, as well as interest in the action of STING agonists in BRCA1/2 mutant disease. Her work on ENPP1 and chromosomal instability identified a novel mechanism whereby cGAS-cGAMP-STING signalling can be subverted to result in tumour-mediated immunosuppression. She is an international expert on cGAS-STING signalling in cancer and the impact of this signalling on the tumour microenvironment.

GROUP MEMBERS

Bruno Beernaert, Postdoctoral Researcher

Matt Jackson, Postdoctoral Researcher

Shannique Clarke, DPhil Student (Cancer Sciences)

Alfie Carter, DPhil Student (MRC iCASE)

Aglaia (Lia) Skolariki, DPhil Student (Cancer Sciences)

Erkin Erdal, DPhil Student (Cancer Sciences)

Juliet Martin, Research Assistant

Recent publications

More publications