Cancer biology – glycobiology and cell signalling through extracellular vesicles

Research in our group is focussed on the biology of cancer, and, in particular, metastasis – that is, how cancers spread from one part of the body to another.

We are particularly interested in the glycobiology of cancer and how changes in sugar chains on the surface of cancer cells are involved in their interactions and behaviour. We also have a special focus on the biology of extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are small membrane-bound vesicles that are released by cells – including cancer cells. We are interested in the involvement of EVs in signalling during cancer spread, and if we can utilise them as biomarkers for early detection of disease.