There are three research streams available;
1. Precision Cancer Medicine
2. Experimental Medicine
3. Public Health
Additional Information:
1. Precision Cancer Medicine
The cross-faculty, interdisciplinary Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology (CCRCB) is committed to the highest quality of research excellence. To achieve our mission, we are pursuing a premier series of research programmes in defined areas, combining innovative discovery science with clinical translational to achieve the best outcomes for cancer patients.
In recognition of the international standing of CCRCB, the University has made, and continues to make, significant investment in both academic staff and infrastructure. CCRCB has over 200 staff, with 38 Principal Investigators, 60 Postdoctoral fellows and 65 postgraduate students from across the world working together in a new, purpose-built research facility.
The Centre's is focused on areas of research strength, delivered through a series of Research Focus groups
-Advanced Radiotherapy
-Breast and Ovarian
-Gastrointestinal
-Genito-urinary and Prostate
Research Strengths
The close, collaborative interaction between clinical and laboratory research experts is the hallmark of our research programme, allowing the direct translation of excellent science to clinical benefit. Close collaboration with biotech companies such as Almac, underpinned by innovative discovery science and its clinical application, has resulted in the development of novel diagnostic/predictive tests and new therapeutics
Research in CCRCB is supported by key enabling technologies which include:
-Bioinformatics
-Drug discovery
-Genomics
-Imaging
-Molecular pathology and Biobanking
-The Northern Ireland Cancer Trials Centre
2. Experimental Medicine
The Centre for Experimental Medicine at Queens incorporates an integrated mixture of approaches ranging from molecular cell biology, immunology, disease phenotyping, imaging, functional genomics, unique pre-clinical models of disease, and patient-based investigation and clinical trials to deliver translational impact on respiratory disease, eye disease, and infectious diseases.
Research Strengths:
Research in the Centre falls into three Research Themes:
Vision and Vascular Medicine A multidisciplinary team of researchers who translate basic scientific findings into knowledge and therapies with benefit to patients and advances scientific knowledge in ocular cell, microvascular biology and tissue remodelling to understand the mechanisms of ocular disease, diabetes-associated complications and cardiovascular damage.
Immunobiology and Microbes This group focuses on delivering high-quality research programmes, spanning state-of-the-art fundamental and discovery research in infection and inflammatory diseases to clinical research. These include internationally competitive programmes investigating the role of innate and adaptive immune responses to infection and tissue injury, the molecular pathogenesis of bacteria and viruses, and how these host- and pathogen-focused programmes might be targeted to develop effective new treatments for major diseases, such as pneumonia, sepsis, and multiple sclerosis.
Respiratory Medicine With a very strong translational research organisation, this group is primarily focused on lung diseases, with major programmes in asthma, cystic fibrosis, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. This group comprises a highly interactive and collaborative, multidisciplinary research environment between molecular and cellular immunologists, bacteriologists, virologists, and clinical researchers. Underpinned by high quality fundamental research, this group has a strong emphasis on the development of clinical research programmes to explore new therapeutic strategies for inflammatory diseases of the lung.
3. Public Health
The Centre for Public Health (CPH) brings together researchers embracing clinical research, epidemiology, and public health issues through a combination of person-centred, informatics, clinical trials, and laboratory-based studies. Multidisciplinary teams work closely together to develop and evaluate screening, diagnostic, preventative and therapeutic interventions that maximise benefit for patients and populations. Our aim is to recruit, train and inspire some of the very best postgraduate students with a strong commitment to clinical and translational research.
Research Strengths:
The CPH has brought together experts from a variety of research backgrounds including epidemiology and public health, trial methodologies, health services research, laboratory sciences and complementary clinical specialities. These experts have a common aim - to translate biological, clinical science, and epidemiological insights into effective clinical and public health interventions to prevent disease and improve health & wellbeing.
We use a range of research approaches to impact on regional, national and global health policy including increased understanding of genomic and environmental determinants of disease, improved biomarker identification and disease phenotyping, evaluation of novel diagnostics and treatments, and improved patient outcomes and public health. We aim to create and sustain a world-class research environment with top-class laboratories and IT facilities in a supportive and collegial atmosphere.
We provide a dynamic and stimulating environment for current and future research staff that will facilitate the training and mentoring of talented postgraduate students (currently hosting 70+ PGR students), postdoctoral fellows and clinician scientists in a range of research methodologies, allowing the CPH to foster strategic research interests in new areas.
These themes have been chosen because they represent global and nationally-relevant health challenges and reflect our international reputation and existing research strengths.
