Principal Investigator: Dr Phil Dash.

Phil Dash is a Lecturer in Biomedical Science at the School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading. He is also associated with the Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research and the Reading Systems Biology Network. He received his PhD from the School of Cancer Studies at the University of Birmingham and prior to joining the University of Reading was a post-doc and, later, a British Heart Foundation fellow at St George's, University of London.

PhD student: Louise Trayhorn.

Louise Gorringe joined the lab in October 2008 working on a Sackler Foundation funded project to investigate the regulation of cell migration by nitric oxide. In particular she is interested in how nitric oxide regulates cytoskeleton dynamics and the turnover of adhesion complexes. Louise has received a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Bristol and an MSc in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology from Imperial College London.

PhD student: Anand Patel.

Anand Patel joined the lab in January 2009 working on a British Heart Foundation funded project to investigate the regulation of trophoblast cell migration. Trophoblasts are cells of the placenta and their migration is essential for the establishment of a successful pregnancy. Poor trophoblast migration has been linked with complications of pregnancy such as pre-eclampsia. Anand has received a BSc in Medical Biochemistry from Brunel University.

PhD student: Ibrahim Barnawi.

Ibrahim Barnawi is a PhD student sponsored by the Saudi government. He joined the lab in October 2009 and is working on a project investigating the role of miRNA in chemotherapy resitstance in cancer. Many cancers are difficult to treat because the cancer cells are resistant to apoptosis. Understanding the mechanisms through which this resistance to cell death is achieved will lead to more effective treatments for cancer.

PhD student: Mahmoud Chawsheen.

Mahmoud Chawsheen is a PhD student sponsored by the Iraqi government. He joined the lab in October 2011 and is working on a project investigating the regulation of apoptosis in cancer, particularly the role of the Inhibitor of Apoptosis (IAP) proteins and the mTOR signalling pathway.

PhD student: Godwin Ponuwei.

Godwin Ponuwei is a PhD student from Nigeria who joined the lab in January 2012 and is working on a project investigating the regulation of cell migration in cancer, particularly the role of plasma membrane blebbing in cell movement in extracelular matrix. Godwin has an MSc in Cancer Cell & Molecular Biology from the University of Leicester.

PhD student: Dalal Malibari.

Dalal Malibari is a PhD student sponsored by the Saudi government. She joined the lab in April 2010 having previously received an MSc in Cancer Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Leicester. She is working on a project investigating the regulation of cell migration and extracellular matrix invasion in cancer. In many cases deaths from cancer are caused by the spread of the disease throughout the body. Understanding the mechanism through which cancer spreads is an important goal in improving cancer treatments.

Undergraduate students 2011

Emma Bick, Laura Gamble, Shirley Keeton, Ross Madden, Olivia McConnell, Karline Rose