Dr Milène Volpato

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

• Programme Lead, MSc Cancer Biology and Therapy and MSc Molecular Medicine
• Deputy lead for Academic Integrity, Chair of the TPG Progression and Award Board, School of Medicine
• Academic Adviser to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission

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 inhibitors and oncolytic viruses in a range of solid tumours.

Current postgraduate research students:

Hanyang Sun

Masome Moeni (co-supervisor)

Past postgraduate research students

Nametso Khumo, (Botswana government scholarship) PhD awarded 2025

Louis McLoughlin, Master by Research awarded 2020 (co-supervisor)

Catriona Marshall, PhD awarded 2021

John Hutchinson (CR-UK clinical fellow) PhD awarded 2016 (co-supervisor)

MSc student project supervision

Martha Brown MSc with Distinction 2024

Cicely Williams MSc with Distinction 2024

Isata Fofanah (Pathology Society scholarship) MSc with Distinction 2023

Namra Tahir MSc with Merit 2022

Alice Ibbotson MSc with Distinction 2022

Anna Bakewell MSc with Distinction 2022

Emily Bertrand MSc with Distinction 2020

Sophie Welch MSc with Distinction 2020

Angela Luca MSc awarded 2019 (co-supervisor)

Dawn Marie MSc with Distinction 2019

Kelsey Allard 2018 MSc with Distinction (co-supervisor)

Harriet Beal 2017 MSc with Distinction (co-supervisor)

Jordan Appleyard 2017 MSc with Distinction (co-supervisor)

Catriona Marshall 2016 MSc with Distinction (co-supervisor)

FY2 and BSc medical students projects

Kake Mann 2012

Heather Burghel 2013

Annan Hetmanski 2014

David Lowes 2015

Eleanor Maissie 2015

Qualifications

• PhD Cancer Pharmacology, UK
• MSc in Health Bioengineering, Toulouse, France
• BSc in Health Bioengineering, Toulouse, France

Professional memberships

• BACR, EACR
• AACR
• UK Therapeutic Cancer Prevention Network

Student education

I am a personal tutor for postgraduates students in LIMR

I deliver modules for the MSc Molecular Medicine and MSc Cancer Biology and Therapy (School of Medicine), on laboratory research and cancer drug development

Research groups and institutes

• Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's

Projects

<li><a href="//phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/2229-cancer:-understanding-the-mechanism(s)-of-the-anti-cancer-activity-of-epa-in-order-to-personalise-therapy-and-improve-treatment-outcomes">Cancer: Understanding the mechanism(s) of the anti-cancer activity of EPA in order to personalise therapy and improve treatment outcomes</a></li> <li><a href="//phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/1485-limr-cancer:-complex-3d-modelling-of-the-tumour-microenvironment-for-immunotherapy-combination-screening">LIMR Cancer: Complex 3D modelling of the tumour microenvironment for immunotherapy combination screening</a></li>