Matthew Blunt

Dr Matthew Blunt is Associate Professor at the University of Southampton, leading research on natural killer (NK) cells and their application in cancer immunotherapy. His work bridges fundamental immunology with clinical translation, collaborating closely with clinicians at University Hospital Southampton and pharmaceutical industry partners.

• Current research focuses on modulating NK cell activity through XPO1 inhibition, KIR receptor targeting, and overcoming lymph node immunosuppression
• Key contributions: Discovery of XPO1 as an NK cell ligand, development of novel therapeutics for NK cell activation

Research Trends: His publications emphasize NK cell activation mechanisms, immune checkpoint modulation, and targeted therapies for blood cancers, particularly chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and lymphomas.

• Scientific Awards: John Goldman Fellowship (2019), Catovsky Prize (2014), Postdoctoral Career Track Award (2018), John Marsden Prizes (2015, 2016), Emerging Leader in Leukemia (2023)

As Deputy Programme Lead for MSc Genomics, he teaches immunology and genomic medicine while supervising PhD students in cancer biology. Research projects involve industry partners like Karyopharm and funding from Cancer Research UK.