
Dr Milène Volpato
- Position: Lecturer in Cancer Pharmacology, FHEA
- Areas of expertise: Cancer pharmacology; Translational cancer research; Omega-3 fatty acids; Colorectal cancer
- Email: M.Volpato@leeds.ac.uk
- Phone: +44(0)113 343 8423
- Location: Wellcome Trust Brenner Building
- Website: Researchgate | ORCID
Profile
I did my undergraduate studies at the University Paul Sabatier in Toulouse, France. I came to the UK in 2001, at the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, University of Bradford, where I obtained my PhD in Cancer Pharmacology, on the preclinical development of novel NQO1 targeting pro-drugs and predictive biomarkers of response in superficial bladder cancer, working with Professor Roger Phillips and Professor Paul Loadman.
I then worked on the genetic epidemiology of NQO1 polymorphisms in cervical cancer and their impact on tumour development and progression in the context of Human Papilloma Virus infection. I joined the laboratory of Professor TH. Rabbitts ( FRS) in Leeds, where I studied the molecular basis of lineage reassignment and leukemogenesis upon chromosomal translocation within in vivo MLL-related leukaemia models. I joined Professor Mark Hull and the Molecular Gastroenterology group in 2010. My research has since focused on the preclinical development of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in particular, for the prevention and/or treatment of colorectal cancer.
Responsibilities
- Module Lead, MSc Molecular Medicine
- Programme Lead, MSc Cancer Biology and Therapy
- Athena Swan SAT member
Research interests
My work is centred on the pre-clinical development of the naturally occurring omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), for the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer. I work with a range of pre-clinical models to investigate potential mechanisms of resistance to the omega-3 fatty acids in colorectal cancer in order to personalise therapy and develop a combination regimen to improve patient outcomes. In particular, I am investigating how EPA and DHA can enhance tumour response to a range of immunotherapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitor and oncolytic virus in a range of solid tumours.
Qualifications
- PhD Cancer Pharmacology
- MSc in Health Bioengineering
Professional memberships
- BACR
- AACR
- UK Therapeutic Cancer Prevention Network
- ECMC Junior investigator Network
Student education
I deliver tutorials for RESS1 – MBChB (School of Medicine)
I am a personal academic tutor for Year 1 and Year 2 MBChB students
I deliver lectures and tutorials for the MSc Molecular Medicine and MSc Cancer Biology and Therapy (School of Medicine)
I lead 2 modules withing the Msc Molecular Medicine and MSc Cancer Biology and Therapy programmes
I am the programme lead for the MSc Cancer Biology and Therapy
I supervise BSc, MSc and FY2 medical students during their research projects, as well as PhD students.
Research groups and institutes
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's
Projects
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<li><a href="//phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/58-cancer:-developing-3d-multicellular-tumour-spheroid-models-to-assess-epa-oncolytic-viruses-combination-therapies-in-vitro">Cancer: Developing 3D multicellular tumour spheroid models to assess EPA-oncolytic viruses combination therapies in vitro</a></li>