Scientific Advisory Board

More details are available on Breast Cancer Campaign's previous Scientific Advisory Board members

SAB Chair

Professor Alastair Thompson, Ninewells Teaching Hospital, University of Dundee

Professor Alastair Thompson is Professor of Surgical Oncology at the University of Dundee and formerly King James IV Professor of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. His specialist interests include the molecular biology of breast cancer and translating laboratory advances into improvements in clinical care for patients with breast cancer. Since 2002 he has been Executive Director of the Breast Cancer Research Centre based in Dundee.

SAB Deputy Chair
Dr Suzanne Eccles, Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton

Dr Sue Eccles is a Reader in Tumour Biology at the University of London, and Team Leader of Tumour Biology and Metastasis in the CRUK Centre for Cancer Therapeutics, Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), Sutton, Surrey. She is currently the Honorary Secretary of the BACR, and serves on the Executive Committee of EACR and the CRUK Biological Advisory Committee. She is the co-founder of the journal Clinical and Experimental Metastasis.

She is a basic scientist interested in the cellular and molecular mechanisms of metastasis and angiogenesis. She also collaborates with both ICR and external colleagues in the preclinical development of novel anticancer agents. Particular interests are the c-erbB family of oncogenes and lymphatic metastasis.

<strong>SAB Deputy Chair<br />Dr Suzanne Eccles, Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton</strong><br /><br />Dr Sue Eccles is a Reader in Tumour Biology at the University of London, and Team Leader of Tumour Biology and Metastasis in the CRUK Centre for Cancer Therapeutics, Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), Sutton, Surrey. She is currently the Honorary Secretary of the BACR, and serves on the Executive Committee of EACR and the CRUK Biological Advisory Committee. She is the co-founder of the journal Clinical and Experimental Metastasis.<br /><br />She is a basic scientist interested in the cellular and molecular mechanisms of metastasis and angiogenesis. She also collaborates with both ICR and external colleagues in the preclinical development of novel anticancer agents. Particular interests are the c-erbB family of oncogenes and lymphatic metastasis.

Dr Ruth Warren, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge

Ruth Warren has been Consultant Radiologist at Addenbrooke's Hospital Cambridge and Associate Lecturer in the University of Cambridge since 1996. In 1987 she set up the first of the breast screening services of the new UK NHSBSP. She was Quality Assurance Director for Breast Screening for Eastern Region from 1998-2002.

Her research concentrates on the effectiveness of breast screening including participation in some of the major UK trials. Her work now concentrates on effectiveness of screening women at high risk, and this includes the role of study radiologist to the UK MRI breast screening study (MARIBS). Recent research has focused on mammographic density and its role in predicting and monitoring risk. She has had collaborations with psychologists, health economists, epidemiologists, and computer engineers in vision science and health grid projects.

<h2>Dr Ruth Warren, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge</h2><p>Ruth Warren has been Consultant Radiologist at Addenbrooke's Hospital Cambridge and Associate Lecturer in the University of Cambridge since 1996. In 1987 she set up the first of the breast screening services of the new UK NHSBSP. She was Quality Assurance Director for Breast Screening for Eastern Region from 1998-2002.</p><p>Her research concentrates on the effectiveness of breast screening including participation in some of the major UK trials. Her work now concentrates on effectiveness of screening women at high risk, and this includes the role of study radiologist to the UK MRI breast screening study (MARIBS). Recent research has focused on mammographic density and its role in predicting and monitoring risk. She has had collaborations with psychologists, health economists, epidemiologists, and computer engineers in vision science and health grid projects.</p>

Professor Louise Jones, St Bartholomew's Hospital

Professor Louise Jones gained a first class honours degree in Pathology from Leicester University in 1985, she went on to qualify as a medical doctor and subsequently achieved her PhD in 1999 at the Breast Cancer Research Unit at Leicester. She is currently a professor for Breast Pathology at Bart's Hospital.

Professor Jim Metcalfe, University of Cambridge

Professor Jim Metcalfe obtained his PhD at the University of Cambridge and is currently Deputy Head/ Director of Research and Development at the Department of Biochemistry at The University of Cambridge.

Dr Simon Langdon, Cancer Research Centre, Edinburgh

Dr Simon Langdon is a Cancer Research UK scientist and Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre based at the Western General Hospital. His research interests include investigation of the mechanisms of oestrogen sensitivity and resistance of breast cancer and use of growth factor signalling inhibitors as therapeutics.

<strong>Dr Simon Langdon, Cancer Research Centre, Edinburgh<br /></strong><br />Dr Simon Langdon is a Cancer Research UK scientist and Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre based at the Western General Hospital. His research interests include investigation of the mechanisms of oestrogen sensitivity and resistance of breast cancer and use of growth factor signalling inhibitors as therapeutics.

Professor Paul Harkin BSc PhD

Paul Harkin is Professor of Molecular Oncology at the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen’s University, Belfast. He is also President and MD of Almac Diagnostics, a biotech company now part of the Almac Group. Prior to this he had been a Research Fellow in Medicine at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital where he focused on the functional characterisation of the BRCA1 tumour suppressor gene, which is mutated in the germline of women with a genetic predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer.

His academic work now utilises a range of high throughput genomic-based technologies to define the role played by BRCA1 in transcriptional regulation and as a predictor of response to chemotherapy.

<p><strong>Professor Paul Harkin BSc PhD<br /></strong><br />Paul Harkin is Professor of Molecular Oncology at the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen’s University, Belfast. He is also President and MD of Almac Diagnostics, a biotech company now part of the Almac Group. Prior to this he had been a Research Fellow in Medicine at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital where he focused on the functional characterisation of the BRCA1 tumour suppressor gene, which is mutated in the germline of women with a genetic predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer. <br /><br />His academic work now utilises a range of high throughput genomic-based technologies to define the role played by BRCA1 in transcriptional regulation and as a predictor of response to chemotherapy.</p>

Dr Fedor Berditchivski

Fedor Berditchivski graduated from the Moscow State University in Russia where he studied virology. He obtained his PhD in molecular biology from the Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences. He undertook post-doctoral training in the laboratory of Professor Joyce Taylor-Papadimitriou at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund in London, followed by training in the laboratory of Professor Martin Hemler at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA. He was appointed as a Lecturer, subsequently, as a Senior Research Fellow, at the Cancer Research UK Institute for Cancer Studies, University of Birmingham. Fedor also serves on the AICR Scientific Advisory panel.

His research interests are focused on adhesion-dependent signalling pathways related to migration and invasion of breast cancer cells.

<strong>Dr Fedor Berditchivski</strong> <br /><br />Fedor Berditchivski graduated from the Moscow State University in Russia where he studied virology. He obtained his PhD in molecular biology from the Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences. He undertook post-doctoral training in the laboratory of Professor Joyce Taylor-Papadimitriou at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund in London, followed by training in the laboratory of Professor Martin Hemler at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA. He was appointed as a Lecturer, subsequently, as a Senior Research Fellow, at the Cancer Research UK Institute for Cancer Studies, University of Birmingham. Fedor also serves on the AICR Scientific Advisory panel.<br /><br />His research interests are focused on adhesion-dependent signalling pathways related to migration and invasion of breast cancer cells.

Professor George Davey Smith

George Davey Smith is Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Bristol, a visiting Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Honorary Professor at the University of Glasgow. His main research interest relates to how socially patterned exposures acting over the entire life-course shape the health distribution between individuals, between populations and also influence long-term trends in health. In addition, George works on genetic epidemiology, sexually transmitted disease / HIV infection prevention activities in India and Nicaragua and on methodological issues in epidemiology. He is co-editor (with Shah Ebrahim) of the International Journal of Epidemiology.

The web address is http://www.epi.bris.ac.uk/staff/gdaveysmith/gdaveysmith.htm

<p><strong>Professor George Davey Smith<br /></strong><br />George Davey Smith is Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Bristol, a visiting Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Honorary Professor at the University of Glasgow. His main research interest relates to how socially patterned exposures acting over the entire life-course shape the health distribution between individuals, between populations and also influence long-term trends in health. In addition, George works on genetic epidemiology, sexually transmitted disease / HIV infection prevention activities in India and Nicaragua and on methodological issues in epidemiology. He is co-editor (with Shah Ebrahim) of the International Journal of Epidemiology.<br /><br />The web address is <a href="http://www.epi.bris.ac.uk/staff/gdaveysmith/gdaveysmith.htm">http://www.epi.bris.ac.uk/staff/gdaveysmith/gdaveysmith.htm</a></p>

Dr Ingunn Holen

Dr Ingunn Holen is a Senior Lecturer in Bone Oncology at the Academic Unit of Clinical Oncology, University of Sheffield. She has extensive experience in the studies of tumour-induced bone disease. Dr Holen’s main research interest is the molecular mechanisms involved in tumour cell-bone cell interactions and how these can be targeted by current anti-cancer therapies. She also runs projects focussing on tumour angiogenesis and the role of circulating tumour cells in breast cancer progression.

<strong>Dr Ingunn Holen<br /></strong><br />Dr Ingunn Holen is a Senior Lecturer in Bone Oncology at the Academic Unit of Clinical Oncology, University of Sheffield. She has extensive experience in the studies of tumour-induced bone disease. Dr Holen’s main research interest is the molecular mechanisms involved in tumour cell-bone cell interactions and how these can be targeted by current anti-cancer therapies. She also runs projects focussing on tumour angiogenesis and the role of circulating tumour cells in breast cancer progression.

Dr Michelle Harvie

Dr Michelle Harvie is a Research Dietician from the Breast Cancer Prevention Team, South Manchester Hospital Trust. She qualified as a dietician in 1991 and was awarded a PhD for studies of weight gain in cancer patients in 2000. Her current programme of work is researching optimum diet and exercise strategies to prevent breast cancer and its recurrence. She is the principal investigator on the Campaign-funded RCT to examine the effects of intermittent versus continuous energy restriction on weight loss and biomarkers of breast cancer risk. Dr Harvie is also involved in a number of intervention and epidemiological diet and cancer prevention studies amongst high-risk and population-risk women. Her scientific findings have been published in many major scientific publications and she was awarded the British Dietetic Association Rose Simmond's Award for Best Published Dietetic Research 2005, for her work on weight gain amongst breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. She recently published ‘The Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention Diet’.

<strong>Dr Michelle Harvie<br /></strong><br />Dr Michelle Harvie is a Research Dietician from the Breast Cancer Prevention Team, South Manchester Hospital Trust. She qualified as a dietician in 1991 and was awarded a PhD for studies of weight gain in cancer patients in 2000. Her current programme of work is researching optimum diet and exercise strategies to prevent breast cancer and its recurrence. She is the principal investigator on the Campaign-funded RCT to examine the effects of intermittent versus continuous energy restriction on weight loss and biomarkers of breast cancer risk. Dr Harvie is also involved in a number of intervention and epidemiological diet and cancer prevention studies amongst high-risk and population-risk women. Her scientific findings have been published in many major scientific publications and she was awarded the British Dietetic Association Rose Simmond's Award for Best Published Dietetic Research 2005, for her work on weight gain amongst breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. She recently published ‘The Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention Diet’.

Dr Diana Harcourt

Dr Diana Harcourt is a Reader in Health Psychology and Co-Director of the Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England, Bristol. Her research interests focus around psychosocial aspects of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, in particular those relating to body image and appearance, breast reconstruction and DCIS

<strong>Dr Diana Harcourt<br /></strong><br />Dr Diana Harcourt is a Reader in Health Psychology and Co-Director of the Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England, Bristol. Her research interests focus around psychosocial aspects of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, in particular those relating to body image and appearance, breast reconstruction and DCIS

Dr Sarah Pinder

Dr Pinder undertook her medical degree at Manchester University and, following histopathology training and research in Nottingham, became Senior Lecturer at Nottingham City Hospital Breast Unit. She was appointed to Consultant Breast Pathology at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge in 2004. She serves on the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Breast Clinical Studies Group, the NICE Guideline Development Group – Early Breast Cancer, NHS BSP Pathology Coordinating Committee and the Sloane Project (NHS BSP DCIS audit) Steering Committee, amongst others. Her research interests are focused on precursor lesions and the molecular biology of breast cancer with emphasis on correlation of morphology, protein expression and molecular features. She has published approximately 140 research articles in peer-reviewed literature, over 30 invited review articles and more than 30 chapters in medical textbooks.

<strong>Dr Sarah Pinder<br /></strong><br />Dr Pinder undertook her medical degree at Manchester University and, following histopathology training and research in Nottingham, became Senior Lecturer at Nottingham City Hospital Breast Unit. She was appointed to Consultant Breast Pathology at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge in 2004. She serves on the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Breast Clinical Studies Group, the NICE Guideline Development Group – Early Breast Cancer, NHS BSP Pathology Coordinating Committee and the Sloane Project (NHS BSP DCIS audit) Steering Committee, amongst others. Her research interests are focused on precursor lesions and the molecular biology of breast cancer with emphasis on correlation of morphology, protein expression and molecular features. She has published approximately 140 research articles in peer-reviewed literature, over 30 invited review articles and more than 30 chapters in medical textbooks.

Professor D Gareth R Evans MB BS MD FRCP

Professor Evans is an employee of Central Manchester and Manchester Children’s University Hospital’s NHS Trust as well as being a Consultant in medical genetics at St. Mary’s Hospital and Christie Hospital, Manchester. He has established a national and international reputation in clinical and research aspects of cancer genetics, particularly in neurofibromatosis and breast cancer. Professor Evans has also developed a clinical service for cancer genetics in the North West Region, which is nationally regarded. He is an important opinion leader nationally through membership of committees and is chairman of the NICE Familial Breast Cancer Guideline Development Group. He lectures nationally and internationally on hereditary breast cancer and cancer syndromes. In addition, he has developed a regional training programme for clinicians, nurses and genetic associates in breast cancer genetics and established a system for risk assessment and counselling for breast cancer in Calman breast units implemented through a training course developed with £35,000 Regional (NMET levy) funds. The Manchester centre has entered the most patients to five important national multicentre trials – EMBRACE, MARIBS, RAZOR, BRCA3 and CRC psychosocial implications of genetic testing. Professor Evans has published over 274 peer-reviewed research publications, more than 50 reviews and chapters and recently had a book published by Oxford University Press on familial cancer. In the last five years he has raised over £4.7 million in grants for multi-centre and local studies (approximately £2.5 million to Manchester).

<strong>Professor D Gareth R Evans MB BS MD FRCP<br /></strong><br />Professor Evans is an employee of Central Manchester and Manchester Children’s University Hospital’s NHS Trust as well as being a Consultant in medical genetics at St. Mary’s Hospital and Christie Hospital, Manchester. He has established a national and international reputation in clinical and research aspects of cancer genetics, particularly in neurofibromatosis and breast cancer. Professor Evans has also developed a clinical service for cancer genetics in the North West Region, which is nationally regarded. He is an important opinion leader nationally through membership of committees and is chairman of the NICE Familial Breast Cancer Guideline Development Group. He lectures nationally and internationally on hereditary breast cancer and cancer syndromes. In addition, he has developed a regional training programme for clinicians, nurses and genetic associates in breast cancer genetics and established a system for risk assessment and counselling for breast cancer in Calman breast units implemented through a training course developed with £35,000 Regional (NMET levy) funds. The Manchester centre has entered the most patients to five important national multicentre trials – EMBRACE, MARIBS, RAZOR, BRCA3 and CRC psychosocial implications of genetic testing. Professor Evans has published over 274 peer-reviewed research publications, more than 50 reviews and chapters and recently had a book published by Oxford University Press on familial cancer. In the last five years he has raised over £4.7 million in grants for multi-centre and local studies (approximately £2.5 million to Manchester).

Professor Nicola Curtin

Nicola works as a Professor of Experimental Cancer Therapeutics at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research School of Clinical & Laboratory Sciences Medical School, Newcastle University. Her main research interest is in the molecular pharmacology of novel drugs to treat cancer. Projects undertaken in her lab include the investigation of the role of novel inhibitors of DNA damage signalling and repair in the response to cytotoxic therapy, the therapeutic exploitation of DNA repair defects in cancer, the role of novel CDK inhibitors in the treatment of breast and prostate cancer and modulation of drug resistance. Many of these projects are translational, including laboratory studies to support clinical trials and involve close liaison with clinicians and the pharmaceutical industry.

Dr Andrew Wardley

Dr Wardley is a Consultant Medical Oncologist and Co-Chair of the Breast Disease Orientated Group at Christie Hospital, Manchester. He is Clinical Research Lead for the Manchester Breast Centre and the Greater Manchester and Cheshire Breast Cancer Studies Group. In addition, Dr Wardley is a member of the National Cancer Research Institute Breast Cancer Studies Group, the Breast International Group, the Protocol Committee for the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Breast Study Group and International Cancer Collaborative Group Steering Committee and the Association of Cancer Physicians Executive Committee. A graduate of Manchester University, Dr Wardley plays an active role in the education of Specialist Trainees, medical students, nurses, pharmacists and allied professionals. He organised the 2005 ACP Summer School and lectured at the fifth European School of Oncology Masterclass in Clinical Oncology. Dr Wardley is currently involved in development of novel areas for breast cancer research in Manchester in collaboration with international groups. He has presented at both national and international conferences and published articles in journals such as ‘The New England Journal of Medicine’, ‘The Journal of Clinical Oncology’ and ‘The British Journal of Cancer’. He is also Medical Oncology Specialty Sub-Editor for ‘The Breast’.