معرفی
Dr Catherine Wilson is an Associate Professor and Group Leader in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Cambridge, embedded within the School of Biological Sciences. She also serves as Governing Body Fellow of Wolfson College. Since 2019 she has led an independent research programme investigating how the cancer gene Myc can be harnessed for regenerative medicine.
Education
- PhD, Department of Medical Genetics, Cardiff University – Thesis on Harmatin (Tsc1) in renal cell carcinoma models under Professors Julian Sampson & Jeremy Cheadle
Research Interests
Dr Wilson’s laboratory focuses on the pleiotropic transcription factor Myc, which is deregulated in most human cancers. By developing acutely switchable genetic models (MycERTM), her team interrogates the immediate molecular consequences of turning Myc on or off in tissues such as the heart. Key discoveries include the requirement for Cyclin T1 (Ccnt1) to enable Myc-driven transcription and cardiomyocyte proliferation—findings that open dual therapeutic avenues:
- Oncology: Selective inhibition of Cyclin T1 to suppress Myc-driven tumours.
- Regenerative Medicine: Reactivation of Myc transcription for cardiac repair after myocardial infarction.
The group combines in vivo mouse genetics, single-cell transcriptomics, mass-spectrometry imaging, and high-throughput screening to dissect these mechanisms.
Funding & Support
Current research is generously supported by:
- Medical Research Council (MRC)
- British Heart Foundation (BHF)
- AstraZeneca (industry partnerships)
- The Royal Society
- Cambridge Trust & Wolfson College studentships
Laboratory & Team
The Wilson Lab comprises 4 post-doctoral researchers, 7 PhD students, 1 research assistant, and 1 animal technician. Collaborations span the UK, Europe and Australia, with active projects in cancer gene validation, lipidomic profiling of tumours, and translational cardiac regeneration studies.
