Tom MacVicar

Dr. Tom MacVicar is a CRUK Career Development Fellow at the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute, where he leads the Mitochondrial Reprogramming in Cancer research group within the School of Cancer Sciences. He established his independent laboratory in December 2021 and serves on the British Society of Cell Biology committee. Dr. MacVicar contributes to Glasgow's growing community of mitochondrial researchers and actively seeks students and postdocs interested in cancer mitochondria research.

• PhD, School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol (2013)
• BSc, Biochemistry, University of Bristol (2009)

Dr. MacVicar's research investigates how mitochondrial form and function dynamically reprogram during tumorigenesis, with particular focus on mitochondrial metabolite transporters that exchange small molecules between mitochondria and the rest of the cell. His laboratory employs genetic screening approaches in 3D tumor models combined with genetically engineered mouse models to identify key transporters controlling cancer progression. A major emphasis is on how regulated mitochondrial nucleotide transport and metabolism contribute to tumorigenesis and responses to nucleotide-analogue chemotherapy. This work has significant implications for metabolically flexible cancers including pancreatic cancer, potentially identifying novel therapeutic targets.

Analysis of Dr. MacVicar's publication record reveals a strong trajectory in mitochondrial biology with increasing focus on cancer applications. His recent work demonstrates growing interest in the intersection of mitochondrial metabolism with immune responses and treatment resistance mechanisms. The publications span fundamental mitochondrial processes like protein import, nucleotide metabolism, and proteolytic regulation while connecting these mechanisms to cancer biology and potential therapeutic targets.

Scientific Awards

• Humboldt Research Fellowship for Postdoctoral Researchers (2016)
• EMBO Long-Term Postdoctoral Fellowship (2015)

Dr. MacVicar's laboratory is supported by his CRUK Career Development Fellowship and includes a postdoctoral scientist (Vanessa Xavier), senior scientific officer (Marilia Dias), PhD student (Sara Gohar), and masters student (Matty Wawryk). The lab actively investigates mitochondrial nucleotide metabolism in cancer progression from tumorigenesis to radiotherapy response. Dr. MacVicar maintains extensive collaborations with other research groups at the institute, particularly those focused on pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, and metabolic crosstalk in cancer.

The MacVicar lab operates within the CRUK Scotland Institute's state-of-the-art research environment, collaborating with multiple specialized groups including Payam Gammage's Mitochondrial Oncogenetics lab, Stephen Tait's Mitochondria and Cell Death group, and Johan Vande Voorde's Metabolic Crosstalk in Cancer team. This collaborative ecosystem provides access to advanced molecular biology, imaging, and animal modeling facilities that support their work on mitochondrial reprogramming in cancer.