Research
Tumour microenvironment, Pancreatic cancer, Metastasis, Macrophages, Tumour immunity
Research Interests:
Tumour microenvironment, Pancreatic cancer, Metastasis, Macrophages, Tumour immunity
Research Summary:
In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), tumour infiltrating myeloid immune cells are now considered to play a critical role in promoting tumour progression and resistance to anti-cancer therapy. My laboratory investigates the interactions between myeloid immune cells and other cells composing the pancreatic tumour microenvironment, including pancreatic cancer cells and cancer associated fibroblasts and how myeloid cells modulate tumour responses to cytotoxic and immuno-therapies. In this endeavour, we utilize a variety of approaches such as animal modelling, cell biology, bioinformatics, and validation of findings in clinical samples.
You can also watch a video about our research here In the Lab with Dr Michael Schmid
Funding:Medical Research Council; North West Cancer Research; Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund; Royal Society
Explaining our research
Research grants
Liverpool ECMC (LECMC)
CANCER RESEARCH UK (UK), DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
April 2023 - March 2028
Assessing Gas6+ neutrophils in the blood of pancreatic cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy to generate evidence for targeting Gas6/AXL signalling in patients
THE CLATTERBRIDGE CANCER CENTRE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (UK)
September 2023 - August 2025
The role of macrophage-derived granulin in pancreatic cancer metastasis - mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities.
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2017 - April 2022
Studying immune escape of disseminated cancer cells in pancreatic cancer
ROYAL SOCIETY (CHARITABLE)
March 2015 - March 2016
Role of monocytes in the metastatic process: identification of novel molecular targets to fight pancreatic cancer
PANCREATIC CANCER RESEARCH FUND (UK)
July 2015 - June 2019
Impact of targeting myeloid PI3Kg on the pancreatic tumour stroma compartment and the response to chemotherapy
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
March 2014 - March 2017
Impact of tumour-associated myeloid cells on cancer stemness and chemotherapy-resistance
NORTH WEST CANCER RESEARCH FUND
March 2013 - December 2016
Development of BH3 profiling to assess tumour sensitivity to cancer chemotherapeutic agents
NORTH WEST CANCER RESEARCH INCORPORATING CLATTERBRIDGE CANCER RESEARCH (UK)
November 2014 - November 2016
European Study Group for Pancreatic Cancer Trial 5F prospective sample collection - ESPAC-5FT
CANCER RESEARCH UK (UK)
September 2014 - December 2018