Research groups
Research Theme
Tumour Microenvironment (Lead Principal Investigator)
COLLABORATORS
Chris Schofield, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford
Stephen Faulkner, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford
Ester Hammond, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford
Monica Olcina, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford
Kevin Harrington, Institute of Cancer Research, London
Simon Boulton, The Francis Crick Institute, London
Colleges
Geoff Higgins
Associate Professor
- Malcolm & Margaret Howat Associate Professor of Clinical Oncology
- Director, CRUK RadNet Oxford
- Honorary Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
Research Summary
Our group’s aim is to develop strategies to increase the efficacy of radiotherapy treatment. This work often involves repurposing existing compounds, or developing new treatments, that can be effectively combined with radiotherapy. Where possible, we seek to translate our laboratory findings into clinical trials utilising functional imaging and genomic data to provide signals of pharmacodynamic efficacy.
Biography
Geoff Higgins is the Malcolm & Margaret Howat Associate Professor in Clinical Oncology.
He obtained degrees in pharmacology (1997) and medicine (2000) from Edinburgh University and undertook specialist training in Clinical Oncology at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre. He subsequently moved to Oxford and was awarded a Royal College of Radiologists/CRUK Clinical Research Fellowship leading to a DPhil in 2010. Geoff subsequently obtained his Clinician Scientist and Advanced Clinician Scientist Fellowships from Cancer Research UK.
His research includes laboratory and clinical research aiming to improve the efficacy of radiotherapy treatment. He is currently the Chief Investigator of two clinical trials and is joint-lead investigator of the CRUK National Cancer Imaging Translational Accelerator.
GROUP MEMBERS
Laboratory Research:
Gonzalo Rodriguez-Berriguete, Postdoctoral Researcher
Wei-Chen Cheng, Postdoctoral Bioinformatician
Rathi Puliyadi, Research Assistant
Puru Thambiayah, DPhil student
Nicole Machado, DPhil Student
David Nderitu, MRes student
Laura Diez, Project Manager (RadNet)
Clinical Research:
Robert Rulach, Consultant Radiation Oncologist
Daniel McGowan, Postdoctoral Researcher
Joy Roach, Clinical Research Fellow (DPhil student)
Martina McAteer, Engagement Manager (NCITA)
GROUP ALUMNI & NEXT DESTINATIONS
Giovanna Granata (DPhil Student 2016-2020) – Postdoctoral Researcher, Amsterdam UMC
James Coates (DPhil Student 2015-2019) – Postdoctoral Researcher, Harvard University
Kate Herbert (Postdoctoral Researcher 2015-2019) – Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Glasgow
Michael Skwarski (Clinical Research Fellow 2016-2019) – Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Guy’s Hospital, London
Tom Ashton (Postdoctoral Researcher 2011-2017) – Senior Scientist, Adaptimmune Therapeutics
Daniel McGowan (DPhil Student 2013-2016) – NIHR Clinical Lecturer and Medical Physicist, Oxford
Giacomo Pirovano (DPhil student 2012-2015) – Postdoctoral Researcher, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, New York
Gagan Tiwana (DPhil Student 2012-2015) – Senior Scientist, Horizon Discovery
Key publications
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Journal article
Rodriguez-Berriguete G. et al, (2024), Cell Death Dis, 15
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Journal article
Rodriguez-Berriguete G. et al, (2023), Clin Cancer Res, 29, 1631 - 1642
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Journal article
HIGGINS G., (2022), Molecular Cell
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Journal article
Zatreanu D. et al, (2021), Nat Commun, 12
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Journal article
Skwarski M. et al, (2021), Clin Cancer Res, 27, 2459 - 2469
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Journal article
Herbert KJ. et al, (2021), Cell Death Differ, 28, 1333 - 1346
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Journal article
Ruggiano A. et al, (2021), Cell Rep, 37