Dr Gavin Bowen-Metcalf

Gavin is a Senior Lecturer and Course Leader, BSc (Hons) Laboratory Scientist, with Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), who takes a student-focused approach to teaching that is inclusive and supportive. He has broad translational research experience in the fields of molecular oncology, genomics and histopathology within the NHS, academia, and industry.

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Background

Gavin joined the School of Life Sciences in 2021. He is a Cancer Biologist, with broad translational research experience and interests that cover numerous aspects of cancer including development, invasion/migration, diagnosis, drug resistance and identification of novel drug targets. Since joining ARU he has been awarded Fellowship to the Higher Education Academy and leads the Cancer Cell Biology Research Group.

Gavin completed his research training at Imperial College London, being awarded an MRes (DIC) in Oncology and Cancer Biology and a joint multidisciplinary PhD in Clinical Medicine and Biomedical Engineering. He has also completed postdoctoral research at the Barts Cancer Institute, London, as well as working within the NHS, medical devices industry, and the medical regulatory industry.

Gavin is also an external examiner for the University of Birmingham and the University of Nottingham, Associate Editor for Nature Oncogene, and is also a Non-Executive Director for the leukodystrophy charity, Alex TLC.

Spoken Languages

• English
• German (Working knowledge)
• British Sign Language (Levels 1-3)

Research interests

• Non-coding RNAs, e.g. microRNAs, and their roles in cancer development, spread, and therapeutic resistance
• Natural cancer therapeutics
• Identification of novel cancer drug targets
• Cell signalling pathways and their roles in cancer progression

Areas of research supervision

UG, MSc and PhD supervision based on research interests outlined above.

Teaching

BSc (Hons) Laboratory Scientist

• Course Leader
• Level 4 – Principles of Laboratory Science (Module Leader)

BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science

• Level 6 – Human Pathology (Module Leader)
• Level 4 – Human Anatomy and Physiology (Module Tutor)
• Level 5 – The Physiology of Organ Systems (Module Tutor)
• Level 6 – Current Advances in Biomedical Science (Module Tutor)
• Level 6 – Pharmacology and Translational Medicine (Module Tutor)

Qualifications

• Doctorate (Joint) Clinical Medicine (Molecular Oncology) and Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London
• MRes (DIC) Oncology and Cancer Biology, Imperial College London
• BSc (Hons) Human Biosciences, University of Northampton

Memberships, editorial boards

• Fellow, Higher Education Academy
• Member, European Association for Cancer Research
• Member, Royal Society of Biology
• Member, Royal Society of Chemistry
• Member, Royal Society of Medicine
• Member, British Pharmacological Society
• Trustee, Alex TLC (The Leukodystrophy Charity)
• Registered Scientist, The Science Council

Selected recent publications

Metcalf, G.A.D. MicroRNAs: circulating biomarkers for the early detection of imperceptible cancers via biosensor and machine-learning advances. Nature Oncogene (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41388-024-03076-3

Waddingham, W., Cross, W. C. H., Metcalf, G., Sekine, S., Jansen, M., 2019. Quantifying the Clonal Expansion of Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia in vivo at Single Cell Resolution. Journal of Pathology, 248, S5-S5.

Al Sulaiman, D., Metcalf, G., Ladame., S, 2017. Engineering innovative solutions to screen for prostate cancer. Convergent Science Physical Oncology, 3, 016001. doi: 10.1088/2057-1739/aa5ebe

Metcalf, G. et al., 2016. Amplification-free detection of circulating microRNA biomarkers from body fluids based on fluorogenic oligonucleotide-templated reaction between engineered Peptide Nucleic Acid probes: application to prostate cancer diagnosis. Analytical Chemistry, 88, pp. 8091-8098. ACS Editors’ Choice. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.6b01594

Metcalf, G., 2014. Early Warnings: Molecular probes that identify the ‘signature’ molecules of cancer. The Biologist, 61(6), pp. 29-31.

Choi, Y., Metcalf, G., Haj Sleiman, M., Vair-Turnbull, D., Ladame, S., 2014. Oligonucleotide-templated reactions based on Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) probes: concept and biomedical applications. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 22, pp. 4395-4398. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2014.05.071

Media experience

Metcalf, G. (2024) Princess of Wales and King Charles: one in two people develop cancer during their lives – the diseases and treatments explained. The Conversation UK. 

Bowen-Metcalf, G. (2023) Springpod subject spotlight – Biomedical Science.

Bowen-Metcalf, G. (2023) What is gene editing and how could it shape our future? The Conversation UK. 

Metcalf, G. (2014) Early Warnings: Molecular probes that identify the ‘signature’ molecules of cancer. The Biologist. 61(6), 29-31.