
Dr Mihaela Lorger
- Position: Associate Professor
- Areas of expertise: brain metastases; breast cancer; melanoma; in vivo models; tumour microenvironment; immunotherapy; hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy
- Email: M.Lorger@leeds.ac.uk
- Phone: +44(0)113 343 9497
- Location: 5.06 Clinical Sciences Building
- Website: Brain Cancer @ Leeds | LinkedIn
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:
- Dissecting the mechanisms of immune checkpoint inhibition in brain metastases
- Adoptive T cell therapy targeting brain metastases
- Hematopoietic stem cell gene therapies targeting brain tumours
- Identifying molecular players involved in breast cancer cell dormancy in the brain
- 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, 1st year (main supervisor)
- Yolanda Dyah Kartika, PhD student, 4th year (main supervisor)
- Ashley Sunderland, PhD student, 4th year (main supervisor)
- Anastasia Widyadari, PhD student, 3rd year (co-supervisor)
Research groups and institutes
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's
- Brain Cancer Research Group
Current postgraduate researchers
<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
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<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>