Dr Barbara Guinn

Post Nominals	BSc PhD SFHEA
Biography	I am a Reader in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Hull. I have a BSc Genetics from University of Aberyswyth (1991) and a PhD from the University of Wales College of Medicine Cardiff (1995). I then worked at the University of Toronto as a postdoctoral fellow and started my own research group at King's College London in 1999. I am interested in identifying targets for immunotherapy (where the immune system is stimulated to kill diseased cells) but we have also realised that disease-specific proteins can provide insights into the biology of disease and biomarkers for disease stage and survival. Currently we are looking for antigenic targets for the targeted therapy of acute leukaemia, ovarian cancer and endometriosis.
Research Interests	My research interests focus around antigen identification reflecting my own background in genetics, immunology and cancer research. We use a range of techniques to identify and characterise antigens including SEREX, proto-arrays, gene expression arrays, RNA-seq, qPCR and pMHC arrays. I am particularly interested in identifying new biomarkers for difficult to diagnose diseases such as ovarian cancer and endometriosis.
Teaching and Learning	Undergraduate - BSc Programmes - Professional and Research Skills for Biomedical & Forensic Scientists (L5) - Current Topics in Forensic Science (L6) - Human Genetics (L6) - Clinical Biochemistry (L6) - Final Year Independent Projects (L6) Postgraduate - MSc Programmes - Independent Research Projects for MSc Biomedical Sciences and MBiochem students
Scopus Author ID	7004299107
PhD Supervision Availability	Yes
PhD Topics	Dr Guinn welcomes applications from students who want to study postgraduate research degrees (MSc by Research, MD(Res) and PhD) in the Centre for Biomedicine, Hull York Medical School. My group is particularly interested in difficult to diagnose and/or treat diseases. Currently this includes acute leukaemias, ovarian cancer and endometriosis, and has led to the identification of biomarkers for survival, target for therapies and improved our understanding of the biological basis of disease. For more information about possible projects please contact barbara.guinn@hyms.ac.uk Current PGR students Wioletta Dolinska, MSc by Research. First Supervisor. Danny Fletcher, MSc by Research. First supervisor. Daiga Spore, MSc by Research. Second supervisor. Writing up Submitted/corrections Hannah Draper (2024) Novel urinary biomarkers for the non-invasive detection of endometriosis. MD Submitted. - Leah Cooksey (2024) Hypoxic regulation of the molecular mechanisms that contribute to the development of endometriosis. PhD Submitted. Completed MD/PhD students - Eithar Mohamed (2023) Identification of tumour antigens that may facilitate effective cancer detection and treatment. University of Hull. - Kelly Grayson (2023) Investigating Synovial Sarcoma, X breakpoint proteins in ovarian cancer. University of Hull. - Holly Wilkinson (2019) Exploring the role of metals and senescence in cutaneous wound healing. University of Hull. - Sarah Edge (2019) Investigating the role of miRNA-187 and the downstream PI3K signalling pathway in modulating radiation sensitivity in oesophageal adenocarcinoma. University of Hull. - Fidelia Bature (2017) Patterns of signs and symptoms preceding Alzheimer’s Disease diagnosis: A cross sectional study. University of Bedfordshire. - Ghazala Khan (2016) Characterisation of the expression of biomarkers and tumour antigens in ovarian cancer and myeloid leukaemia. University of Bedfordshire. - Emma Buick (2016) The loss of PI3K C2a is associated with a heightened immune response. University of Bedfordshire. - Nicola Hardwick (2008) Pre-clinical evaluation of immunotherapy for acute myeloid leukaemia with PASD1 peptide vaccination and autologous whole cell vaccines. King's College London. - Adam T.C. Cheuk (2005) Immunogene therapy of murine and human acute myeloid leukaemia using costimulatory molecules: A comparison of the efficacy of B7-1, B7-2 and 4-1BBL. King's College London. Completed Masters (MPhil and MSc by Research) Students - Alice Fearn (2023) Development of a cell line model of epithelial ovarian cancer using immortalised fallopian tube cells. University of Hull. - Elliott Brown (2022) Identification of the molecular pathways involved in paediatric and adult acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). University of Hull. - Sara Goodman (2020) Identification of novel tumour antigens in adults with B-cell acute lymphocytic leukaemia. University of Hull. - Chloe Warren (2019) Investigating the role of CBX2 in models of triple negative breast cancer. University of Hull. - Stephanie Jordaens (2019) Analysis of the expression of antigens in adult B-cell acute lymphocytic leukaemia. Erasmus + between University of Hull and University of Antwerp. - Leah Cooksey (2018) Identification of novel tumour antigens for the immunotherapy of B-cell acute lymphocytic leukaemia. University of Hull. - Laurie Freire Boullosa (2017) Characterisation of the expression of novel antigens in adult B-acute lymphocytic leukaemia. Erasmus + between University of Hull and University of Antwerp. - Viktoriya Boncheva, MPhil (2014) The identification of tumour antigens recognised by patients with Dukes’ B reactive colorectal cancers. University of Bedfordshire. - Hans Vergauwen (2011) Optimisation of the pMHC array for the identification of leukaemia-associated antigen-specific T cells in leukaemia patients. Erasmus + between University of Southampton & University of Antwerp. - Frances Denniss (2006) The protein expression of two leukaemia associated antigens in AML: PASD1 and SSX2IP and the potential as targets for immunotherapy. King’s College London.