Brian Huntly

Professor Brian Huntly is a clinical research scientist at the University of Cambridge, leading the Department of Haematology and conducting research at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. As a Consultant Haematologist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, he bridges clinical practice with fundamental research in leukaemia stem cell biology and malignant haematopoiesis.

• MD from University of Edinburgh
• PhD in Cambridge
• Postdoctoral training at Harvard
• Fellow of Royal College of Pathologists
• Member of Royal College of Physicians
• Chair of EHA Fellowships and Grants Committee

His research explores how transcriptional and epigenetic alterations drive acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and malignant lymphomas, with a focus on:

• Chromatin remodeling
• Enhancer dysfunction
• Cancer stem cell dependencies
• Metabolic vulnerabilities
• Therapeutic target discovery
• Mutation-specific disease mechanisms

Recent publications highlight:

• 2025: BET inhibitor resistance mechanisms
• 2024: CREBBP inactivation in ALL
• 2024: BCR::ABL1 variant analysis
• 2023: Chromatin factor screening
• 2022: UTX/KDM6a tumor suppression

Scientific awards and grants include:

• EHA-José Carreras Young Investigator Award
• AstraZeneca research funding
• Cancer Research UK
• European Hematology Association
• European Research Council
• Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund
• Wellcome Trust

Key collaborations with George Vassiliou and Tony Kouzarides have led to breakthroughs in AML epigenetics and BET protein inhibitors. His group maintains laboratory facilities at the Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre on Cambridge Biomedical Campus. Students and researchers in his group investigate:

• Leukaemia initiation mechanisms
• Epigenetic priming
• Metabolic dependencies
• DNA repair vulnerabilities
• Chromatin organization
• Stem cell fate transitions