About
Professor Martin Bushell serves as Deputy Director of the CRUK Scotland Institute in Glasgow and holds an Honorary Professorship at the University of Leicester. He leads the RNA and Translational Control in Cancer research group within the School of Cancer Sciences at the University of Glasgow.
His research focuses on understanding how RNA-binding protein complexes, tRNA abundance, and codon optimality dictate oncogenic protein production in cancer. Specifically, his laboratory investigates the dysregulation of protein synthesis in tumor clones and supporting stroma, examining how hyperactivation of the eIF4F translation initiation complex and shifts in tRNA pools promote oncogenic gene expression programs.
Prof. Bushell employs biochemical, biophysical, and computational methods to study how changing tumor environments result in the redeployment of mRNA-binding complexes that control the balance between protein translation and mRNA turnover. His work has significant implications for developing therapeutic approaches targeting translation control in cancer.
His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on mRNA translation mechanisms, DNA repair processes, and cancer biology, with particular emphasis on colorectal cancer, liver cancer, and leukemogenesis. His research bridges fundamental molecular mechanisms with potential clinical applications.
Prof. Bushell supervises several PhD students and leads a research team comprising associate scientists, research scientists, and postdoctoral researchers who investigate various aspects of RNA biology and translational control in cancer.
