My current work focuses on understanding how bioactives in foods such as those present in broccoli, prevent prostate cancer progression. I will be exploring at a cellular level how plant metabolites, specifically sulphur-containing compounds, affect gene expression and metabolism in the prostate cancer microenvironment. As part of my PhD project, I will be working alongside Urologists at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, to determine whether these metabolic and genetic changes are seen following a short-term human intervention study.

Prior to my PhD, I undertook a Year in Industry at the Quadram Institute. This project focused on understanding how human fungal microbiota influences human gut health through recognition of glycan-binding receptors (lectins) expressed on immune cells and fungal polysaccharides. For my final year research project, I was awarded the Royal Society of Biology Advanced Accreditation Top Project Award as was the graduate with the highest project mark in Biochemistry.

Key Publications

Publication:
Lamprinaki D., Beasy G., Zhekova A., Wittmann A., James S., Dicks J., Iwakura Y., Saijo S., Wang X., Chow C. W., Roberts I., Korcsmaros T., Mayer U., Wileman T., Kawasaki N. (2017) LC3-Associated Phagocytosis Is Required for Dendritic Cell Inflammatory Cytokine Response to Gut Commensal Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Frontiers in immunology, 8, 1397. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01397

Public engagement:
Melchini A., Blair A., Hollands W., Beasy G., Chapple A. (2017) International Clinical Trials Day at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
Edwards A., Allen E., Beasy G., Wilkinson J., Maidment J., Sarkar A., Rees H., Smith C., Walton J. (2017) Year 10 Science Camp: Laboratory Training.