Professor Mark Hull

Profile

Professor Mark Hull PhD FRCP is a Clinician Scientist and Consultant Gastroenterologist with a research interest in the molecular basis of colorectal carcinogenesis and colorectal cancer prevention. He trained in Biochemistry at the University of Cambridge and Medicine at the University of Oxford. His PhD studies investigated the cell biology of gastric ulcer healing at the University of Nottingham. He has previously been awarded MRC Clinician Scientist and Senior Clinical Fellowships. He has been awarded the Linacre Medal by the Royal College of Physicians of London and the President’s Medal by the British Society of Gastroenterology. He is a NIHR Senior Investigator.

Research interests

Professor Hull's laboratory uses the full spectrum of translational cancer research methodologies from basic molecular and cell biology through to Phase II biomarker clinical studies and Phase III randomised controlled trials. The broad theme of his research is identification and characterisation of molecular mechanisms of colorectal carcinogenesis that can be utilised as targets for prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer. He studies two main areas of cancer prevention: chemoprevention and lifestyle modification (obesity). The current main focus of the work is characterisation of the anti-colorectal cancer activity of the natural omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). He was Chief Investigator of the seAFOod Polyp Prevention Trial and the EMT trial and currently leads the EMT2 trial of EPA treatment for patients with colorectal cancer liver metastasis (NCT03428477). He has a longstanding focus on fatty acid metabolism and signalling as a target for cancer prevention and treatment. Another main area of interest is the link between obesity, weight loss and colorectal cancer risk.

He collaborates closely with Dr's Milene Volpato and Louise Coletta in Leeds, as well as the Leeds Clinical Trials Unit. External collaborations include Dr Paul Loadman (Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, University of Bradford), Professor Colin Rees (Newcastle University), Professor Eva Morris (Oxford), and Dr Andrew Chan (MGH, Boston). Work is currently funded by the NIHR, Yorkshire Cancer Research and US NIH. Professor Hull has previously received funding from MRC, Cancer Research UK and World Cancer Research Fund International.

Qualifications

• BA (Hons) Cantab
• BM BCh (Oxon)
• PhD (Nottingham)
• FRCP (London)

Professional memberships

• British Society of Gastroenterology
• ISSFAL

Student education

I undertake undergraduate and postgraduate clinical teaching. I lecture to Food Sciences undergraduates.

I have supervised clinical and non-clinical postgraduate research students for many years. Seventeen students completed and awarded PhD/MD.

Research groups and institutes

• Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's

Projects

<li><a href="//phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/1503-limr-translational-medicine:-understanding-the-mechanism(s)-of-resistance-to-epa-to-personalise-therapy-and-improve-outcome">LIMR Translational Medicine: Understanding the mechanism(s) of resistance to EPA to personalise therapy and improve outcome</a></li>