Dr Mihaela Lorger

Profile

I am a head of Brain Metastasis Research Group. We are studying the biology of brain metastases, with a particular focus on tumour immunology and novel therapies in preclinical models.

Current roles:

• Chair of the St. James’s Biomedical Services (SBS) user group (2017 – present)
• Member of the Leeds Institute of Medical Research REF Reading Group in the area of Immunology & Immunotherapy (2017 – present)
• Member of the University of Leeds Biomedical Services (ULBS) committee (2017 – present)
• Member of the Joint Research Tissue Bank Management Committee (2012 – present)
• Member of the Leeds Breast Cancer Bank review panel (2015 – present)
• Ad hoc grant reviewer for Medical Research Council, Breast Cancer Now, Worldwide Cancer Research, and others

Previous roles:

• Member of The Leeds Integrated Cancer Research Centre (LICRC) Planning group (2018 – 2019)
• Member of the Biomedical Services Working Group (2018 – 2019)
• Member of the Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Committee (AWERC) (2014 – 2018)
• Member of the British Neuro-Oncology Society (BNOS) annual conference organizing committee (2015/2016)
• Organizer of the “Pre-clinical imaging in research” symposium, University of Leeds (2014)
• Member of the organising Committee for the Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology retreat (2014)

Responsibilities

• Head of Brain Metastasis Research Group
• Postgraduate Research Tutor
• Module Leader

Research interests

Our research group is focusing on brain metastases. Specific topics studied in the lab include:

1. Dissecting the mechanisms of immune checkpoint inhibition in brain metastases
2. Adoptive T cell therapy targeting brain metastases
3. Hematopoietic stem cell gene therapies targeting brain tumours
4. Identifying molecular players involved in breast cancer cell dormancy in the brain
5. Intracranial patient-derived tumour xenografts as improved pre-clinical models

Qualifications

• PhD Biology
• MSc Molecular Biology

Professional memberships

• Metastasis Research Society
• European Association of Neuro-Oncology

Student education

• I am a module leader for MSc Cancer biology and molecular oncology MEDM5221
• I teach on MSc module Animal models of disease MEDM5131
• I am a tutor on MBChB RESS1 MEDI121801

I supervise the following PhD students:

• Scott Gregory, PhD student, 1^st year (main supervisor)
• Yolanda Dyah Kartika, PhD student, 4^th year (main supervisor)
• Ashley Sunderland, PhD student, 4^th year (main supervisor)
• Anastasia Widyadari, PhD student, 3^rd year (co-supervisor)

Research groups and institutes

• Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's
• Brain Cancer Research Group

Current postgraduate researchers

• Scott Gregory

<h4>Postgraduate research opportunities</h4> <p>We welcome enquiries from motivated and qualified applicants from all around the world who are interested in PhD study. Our <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk">research opportunities</a> allow you to search for projects and scholarships.</p>

Projects

<li><a href="//phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/214-immunotherapy:-manipulating-t-cell-metabolism-to-improve-anti-tumour-immunity">Immunotherapy: Manipulating T cell metabolism to improve anti-tumour immunity</a></li>