Tyler Barr

Profile

Tyler graduated with an MSc in Molecular Medicine from the University of Leeds in the summer of 2018, following the completion of BSc in Biomedical Science in 2017. Tyler’s MSc studies involved a 4 month laboratory research project, in which she investigated methods of enhancing oncolytic reovirus therapy for the treatment of colorectal cancer. During this time, Tyler developed a particular interest in cancer immunotherapy, and obtained a PhD studentship, funded by the Bone Cancer Research Trust. Tyler began her PhD in October 2018, under the supervision of Professor Graham Cook and Dr Fiona Errington-Mais, to investigate the use of oncolytic viruses for the treatment of Ewing Sarcoma.

Research interests

Ewing Sarcoma (ES) is a rare malignancy of the bone or soft tissue, which typically presents in children or young adults. Treatment options for ES are limited, particularly for patients with advanced disease. Oncolytic viruses are novel immunotherapeutic agents, which selectively replicate within and lyse cancer cells, and harbour the ability to substantiate anti-tumour immune responses. There is robust pre-clinical and clinical data which hold promise for oncolytic virus therapy for the treatment of many cancer types, however, there has been minimal research to investigate their efficacy in ES.

Tylers PhD project will determine if oncolytic viruses could be a suitable therapy for ES. This will initially involve screening a panel of oncolytic viruses, to assess their direct killing effects and virus-based activation of an immune response to this cancer. The efficacy of oncolytic viruses as adjuvant therapies with other agents will also be explored.

Qualifications

• MSc Molecular Medicine - Distinction
• BSc Biomedical Science - First Class Honours