Dr Justin Sturge

Biography	Dr Sturge is a cell biologist who leads the Endo180 Cancer Team, the winners of the Educate North Research Team Of The Year in 2016. Dr Sturge was appointed Non-Clinical Lecturer at Imperial College London (2006-2011), Senior Lecturer in the School of Biological, Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, University of Hull (2012-2016) and Reader in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Hull (2016). His post-doctoral work was conducted with Professor Gareth E Jones at King's College London (1998-2001) and Professor Clare M Isacke at the Institute of Cancer Research (2001-2006). Awarded over £2.5 million funding since 2006 via 15 research grants (12 as PI) from Prostate Cancer UK (3 PhD studentships), Worldwide Cancer Research, Prostate Action, Breast Cancer Now, The Rosetree’s Trust, Wellbeing of Women, Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Chinese Scholarship Council, British Council, Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust, Hull & East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust. He led the procurement of Image Xpress Micro High-Throughput Microscopes at Hull (2016) (£235k) and Imperial College London (2006) (£100k). External roles include Ambassador for the British Society of Cell Biology and membership of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Pancreatic Cancer (2019-), Pancreatic Cancer UK Research Strategy Group (2016-), Hull Prostate Cancer Interest Group (2016-) and the Prostate Cancer Charity Symposium (London, 2011) and National Prostate Cancer Research Symposium (London, 2010) Steering Committees. Completed the University of Hull Leadership Programme (2019) and is a member of the Faculty of Health Sciences Employee Experience Sub-Committee (representing Biomedical Sciences), the University of Hull LGBT Network and the University and College Union. Previous roles include Deputy Examinations Officer and Student Personal Development Plan coordinator for the School of Biological, Biomedical and Environmental Sciences. Peer reviewer for article submissions to the Journal of Pathology, British Journal of Cancer, Clinical & Experimental Metastasis, Trends in Cell Biology, PLoS ONE, Experimental Cell Research, Journal of Pharmacological & Toxicological Methods, Cancer Letters. Grant peer reviewer for Prostate Cancer UK, the Medical Research Council, Cancer Reseach UK, Worldwide Cancer Research, Yorkshire Cancer Research, Breast Cancer Now and The Big C. Invited seminar speaker at Charles University, Czech Republic (2019), Northern Institute for Cancer Research (2018), University of Cardiff (2016), University of Hull (2015, 2014, 2013), University of Texas (2012), University of East Anglia (2012), University of Birmingham (2009), Department of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London (2009), Young Prostate Researchers Symposium, Cambridge (2009); Prostate Cancer Support Organisation, Basingstoke (2009); The Prostate Cancer Charity, London (2009, 2007), World Cancer Congress, Beijing (2009), Queen Mary University London (2008), Cancer and Bone Society, Heriott Watt University (2008), London Prostate Interest Group (2007), CRUK Lincolns Inn (2007), INSERM Paris (2007); National Cancer Research Institute, Birmingham (2006). Dr Sturge regularly features in University of Hull and funder press releases leading to media interviews, press, TV and radio coverage; including BBC Radio Humberside (March 2019, October 2018, July 2018, November 2017); Hull Daily Mail, Prostate Cancer News Today, Medical Xpress, Renal and Urology News (November 2014); Hull Daily Mail and interview on KCFM radio (March 2014); Yorkshire Post (January 2013); Prostate Cancer Charity research news (December 2011); Association of International Cancer Research video (January 2011); Prostate Cancer Charity video (November 2010); Times Careers Section (November 2007); Washington Post, The Times, The Daily Mail, London Evening Standard, The Metro, BBC News Online and ITN News (September 2003). Outreach activities include engagement with charity personnel and fundraisers for Prostate UK, patient support groups (Basingstoke and Humberside) and Rotary Clubs (Kent area). Represented Prostate Cancer UK researchers at the House of Lords (2009), Grand Connaught Rooms (2011), Lords Cricket Ground (2010), fundraisers in Beverley (2018) and the March for Men in Leeds (2018, 2019). Enjoys meeting prospective students and their parents at University open days and budding young scientists at Hull Science Fair. Dr Sturge has been the recipient of Honor Fell Travel Awards (1999, 2002, 2004) from British Society for Cell Biology; British Society for Cell Biology Best Poster Prize (2004); Wellcome and Toulman Prizes for Excellence in Pharmacology (1991) at University of Portsmouth.
Research Interests	Dr Sturge's research since 2001 has mainly focused on understanding how the receptor Endo180 contributes to the different stages of cancer. He is now using the latest technologies available to translate this knowledge into better survival rates for patients. His research in this area began by investigating the basic cell biology of Endo180 function as a pro-migratory receptor, followed by its function in more complex in vitro models of human cancer and most recently the translation of the findings towards diagnostic advances for breast, prostate, pancreatic and other cancer patients. In particular the discovery that Endo180 behaves as a supressor-to-promoter switch for the invasive behaviour of normal prostate epithelial cells set a precedent for this translational research. This includes development of the first diagnostic test for the accurate measurement of Endo180 levels in patient serum and the first multi-modal bio-imaging probe to monitor the pro-invasive switch in Endo180 in patients using near infra red (NIR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We are now conducting clinical trials to determine the value of Endo180 as a predictive cancer biomarker. Funded Research Projects Differentiating the malignant potential of pancreatic cysts Professor Anthony Maraveyas (co-PI), Dr Justin Sturge (co-PI) Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust £299,000 (September 2017 - March 2021) Gene-editing of MRC2 in prostate cancer cell lines Dr Daniel Diaz-Garcia (visiting scientist), Justin Sturge (host lab) Newton Fund Development Award £1,400 (March 2017 - April 2017) Development of Endo180 protein fragments Dr Mercedes Rodriguez-Teja (visiting scientist), Justin Sturge (host lab) British Council £7,000 (March 2016 - April 2016) ENDOGLOWS: development of a multimodal bioimaging platform for detecting the switch to aggressive prostate cancer Justin Sturge (PI), Graeme Stusiuk (co-I) Prostate Cancer UK, S14-017 £100,000 (September 2015 - September 2018) The role of Endo180 in metastatic bone disease in advanced breast cancer Justin Sturge (PI), Carlo Palmieri (co-I) Breast Cancer Campaign (Breast Cancer Now) 2013MaySP021 £20,000 (November 2013 - August 2015) Chinese Scholarship Council Investigating the biological and clinical implications of Endo180 in breast cancer Justin Sturge (PI) £96,000 (September 2013 – September 2016) Investigation of the collagen receptor Endo180 in metastatic bone disease associated with prostate cancer Justin Sturge (PI), Jonathan Waxman (co-I) The Rosetree’s Trust, M59 £51,000 (April 2011 - March 2014) Larp1, EMT and chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer Sarah Blagden (PI), Justin Sturge (co-I), Sadam Ghaem-Maghami (co-I), Euan Stronach (co-I) Wellbeing of Women, RG1319 £198,589 (April 2011 - March 2014) Interaction of circulating tumour cells with vascular endothelium via the C-type lectin receptor Endo180 Justin Sturge (PI), Ana Violetta Fonseca (co-I) Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia £27,000 (March 2010 - February 2011) How to prevent the spread of prostate cancer Justin Sturge (PI), Jonathan Waxman (co-I) The Rosetree’s Trust, M40 £30,000 (January 2010 - December 2013) The role of SK1 activity in prostate cancer cell motility, invasion and metastasis Justin Sturge (joint PI), Dmitry Pshezhetskiy (joint PI), Jonathan Waxman (co-I) The Prostate Cancer Charity & Milly Apthorp Charitable Trust, 110854 £124,492 (October 2009 - September 2012) Pro-inflammatory macrophages induce chemoresistance and migration of cancer cells through sphingosine kinase-1 activation Dmitry Pshezhetskiy (PI), Justin Sturge (co-I), Joao Nunes (co-I) Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia £48,000 (December 2009 - November 2013) Upgrade of microscopes and cell imaging suite Michael Seckl (PI), Justin Sturge (co-I), Charles Coombes (co-I), Eric Lam (co-I), Carlo Palmieri (co-I), Ernesto Yague (co-I), Olivier Pardo (co-I), Dmitry Pshezhetskiy (co-I) Department of Heath £500,000 (equipment) (December 2008) Prognostic value and cooperation of collagen degradation pathways in prostate cancer metastasis Justin Sturge (PI) Association of International Cancer Research, 08-080 £186,425 (October 2008 – September 2011) Cooperation between pericellular & intracellular collagen degradation pathways during prostate cancer invasion Justin Sturge (PI), Marjorie Walker (co-I), Jonathan Waxman (co-I) The Prostate Cancer Charity, 110719 £154,969 (October 2008, offer declined) Microscope upgrade for prostate cancer research Justin Sturge (PI) Prostate Cancer Research Foundation £12,000 (October 2008) The role of Endo180 in prostate cancer in bone metastasis Justin Sturge (PI), Jonathan Waxman (co-I) Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust (Tony Gallagher & Lord Harris) £175,693 (January 2007 - June 2011) The role of Endo180 in prostate cancer cell migration and metastasis Justin Sturge (PI), Jonathan Waxman (co-I) The Prostate Cancer Charity, 110632 £97,093 (October 2007 - February 2011)
Teaching and Learning	BSc Biomedical Science, BSc Biochemistry, MSc Biomedical Science, MSc Translational Oncology, MSc Cancer Rehabilitation (Sports, Health & Exercise Science - link tutor) and MSc Cancer Biology (Imperial College London) Level 4: 400479 - Skills for Biomedical & Human Biology Sciences; 400480 - Human Physiology; & 400485 - Cell Structure & Function Level 5: 500704 - Professional & Research Skills for Biomedical Scientists; 500705 - Molecular Cell Biology; 500707 - Biological Basis of Disease; and 500708 - Molecular Cell Biology & Histopathology Level 6: 600065 - Reviews in Biochemistry; 601128 - Cancer Biology; and 601454 - Independent Research Project Level 7: 701043 - Current Topics in Biomedical Science (Module Coordinator); 701047 - Research Skills in The Biosciences; 701048 - Cellular and Molecular Biology of Cancer; 701053 - Organ Specific Cancers: From-Bench-To-Bedside; 701056 - Tumour Immunology & Microenvironment (Module Coordinator); 701059 - Cancer & Modifiable Risks (Module Coordinator); 701240 - Optical Imaging and Drug Delivery; and Research Project and Dissertation MSc Cancer Biology (Imperial College London) - guest lecture on Metastasis
Scopus Author ID	6602419588
PhD Supervision Availability	Yes
PhD Topics	Dr Sturge welcomes enquiries from potential PhD and MSc (Res) students interested in exploiting the role of Endo180 and/or mechanobiology in chronic disease as a diagnostic and therapeutic target. Projects are particularly focused on the association between diabetes, metabolic disorders, obesity and exercise to the promotion of cardiovascular disease and cancer. His team has been the host laboratory for external Masters and Bachelors research project students from the University of Oxford, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Tokyo Medical & Dental University, University of British Columbia and University of Newcastle, as well as hosting postdoctoral fellows from Portugal, Czech Republic, Mexico and India. Dr Sturge has mentored junior research fellows, PhD students and lecturers since starting his first academic position at Imperial College London. Completed PhD's Julian Hendrik Gronau, The Role of Endo180 in Prostate Cancer Cell Migration and Metastasis, Imperial College London, funded by Prostate Cancer UK (2013) Kai Wang, Investigating the Biological and Clinical Implications of Soluble Endo180, University of Hull, funded by Chinese Scholarship Council and Breast Cancer Campaign (2017) Completed MRes's Susann Bruche, Dual Impact of Altered Extracellular Matrix and Intracellular Signals Generated by S1P/SphK1 and the Collagen Modulating Receptor Endo180 during Cardiac Fibrosis, Imperial College London (2010) Claudia Breit, The Role of Endo180 in Prostate Cancer Progression, Imperial College London (2010) Kamil Talar, Stiffness Induced Disruption of Endo180-CD147 Suppressor Complex as a Biophysical Trigger for Invasive Pancreatic Cancer, University of Hull (2017) George Firth, The Synthesis and Validation of Multimodal PET/Fluorescence Zinc Sensing Probes as Potential Imaging Agents for Prostate Cancer, University of Hull (2017) Current MD supervisions Dr Farzana Haque, Differentiating the malignant potential of pancreatic cysts, HYMS, funded by HEY NHS Teaching Hospitals Trust (2019-) Current PhD supervisions Vasilki Papachristofi, How environmental contaminants affect the female and male reproductive systems, HYMS, funded by University of Hull PhD Scholarship (2018-) Mitchell Clarke, ENDOGLOWS: Development of a Multimodal Bioimaging Platform for Detecting the Switch to Aggressive Prostate Cancer, University of Hull, funded by Prostate Cancer UK (2015-) Current MRes supervisions Matthew Walker, The Role of Endo180 in Pancreatic Cancer Progression, University of Hull (2017-)