Name: Dr. Andrew M Fry

Position: Professor of Cell Biology

Research Description:

We aim to better understand the biology of cancer so that we can develop more effective treatments for patients with this major disease of unmet need.

We take mechanism-based molecular and cell biology approaches to gain new insights into cancer-related processes, including cell division, microtubule organization, mitotic spindle assembly, centrosome biology and cell cycle checkpoints. Much of our research focuses on the regulation of these processes by protein phosphorylation and, more specifically, by members of the human NEK protein kinase family.

We are investigating how perturbation of these normal biological processes leads to the cancer-related phenotypes of aneuploidy, chromosome instability, tumour heterogeneity and metastasis. We wish to identify cellular mechanisms of action, resistance pathways and biomarkers that will enable better use of current microtubule-based chemotherapies and generation of new personalised approaches to cancer treatment.

In addition to our work in cancer biology, we are interested in how inherited genetic defects lead to the multi-organ syndromic diseases known as ciliopathies. These developmental and degenerative disorders, which include cystic kidney diseases and retinopathies, arise through defects in the organization or signaling function of the antenna-like microtubule-based organelle, called the primary cilium.

Lab Memberships

The Fry Laboratory (Principal Investigator/Director)

Contact Information

Address:
University of Leicester
Dpt Molecular and Cell Biology
Leicester
United Kingdom

Web Page: https://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/molcellbiol/staff/fry/fry