Dr Vignir Helgason

  • Senior Lecturer (Translational Research Centre)

telephone: 0141 330 7245
email: Vignir.Helgason@glasgow.ac.uk

Research interests

Biography

I trained for a PhD degree in Prof. Kevin Ryan’s “Tumour Cell Death Laboratory” at the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research and graduated from University of Glasgow in October 2007. Since 2007 I have held two post-doctoral positions in Prof. Tessa Holyoake’s lab at the Paul O’Gorman Leukaemia Research Centre, which has been described as “a flagship model of integrated basic, translational and clinical research.” Our research focuses on understanding survival mechanisms that are active in Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) stem cells and to investigate novel approaches for therapy. In 2013 I was awarded the Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund Research Fellowship and Leadership Fellowship and currently lead a team at the new Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre. My team focuses on the role of autophagy in disease persistence and drug resistance in CML with the overall aim of targeting appropriate therapy to the stem cell compartment to remove the population in which drug resistance occurs.


Grants

Grants and Awards listed are those received whilst working with the University of Glasgow.

  • Drug-repurposing screen for new therapeutic options in chronic and acute myeloid leukaemias
    Chief Scientist Office
    2018 - 2018
     
  • Complementing LCMS data with transcriptomics to target metabolic vulnerabilities in acute myeloid leukaemia
    NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Endowment Funds
    2017 - 2019
     
  • Identifying and Targeting Metabolic Dependencies in Tyrosine Kinase-Driven Myeloid Leukaemias
    The Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund
    2016 - 2019
     
  • Identifying Mitochondrial Metabolic Dependencies in CML using a Genome-Scale CRISPR-Knockout Screening Approach
    Lady Tata Memorial Trust
    2016 - 2018
     
  • Single cell RNA sequencing on primative human leukaemic stem cell population to identify novel biomarkers involved in drug resistance and future immunotherapy
    Wellcome Trust
    2016 - 2018
     
  • Identification of cancer-specific repurposing drug(s) that can overcome acquired drug-resistance in chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)
    NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
    2016 - 2017
     
  • Autophagy-dependent regulation of energy metabolism in leukaemic stem cells
    Leuka
    2016 - 2018
     
  • ISSF Catalyst: Identification of mechanism(s) of acquired drug resistance in CML using a genome-scale CRISPR-knockout screening approach
    Wellcome Trust
    2015 - 2016
     
  • Autophagy Inhibition Combined with Targeted Therapy for Elimination of CML Stem Cells.
    The Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund
    2013 - 2018
     

Additional information

Invited International Presentations

  • 2013: Genoa, Italy - 2nd International Conference "Leukemia 2013" (Invited speaker Special lecture)
  • 2013: London, England, UK - Analysis of Autophagy Regulation: Discussion of recent research and new technologies
  • 2012: Glasgow, Scotland, UK - Manage Clinical Network (MCN) meeting
  • 2012: Glasgow, Scotland, UK - BSH 52nd Annual Scientific Meeting
  • 2012: Glasgow, Scotland, UK - 1st Scottish Autophagy Workshop
  • 2012: Baltimore, Maryland, USA - ESH iCML 14th International Conference: Chronic Myeloid Leukemia – Biology and Therapy (Workshop Convener)
  • 2012: Vancouver, BC, Canada - Autophagy workshop, Autophagy: an Emerging Therapeutic Target in Human Disease
  • 2012: Harrogate, England, UK - British Association for Cancer Research Special Meeting; Chasing Cancer Stem-like Cells
  • 2011: Estoril, Portugal - ESH iCML 13th International Conference: Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Biology and Therapy (Speaker and Workshop convenor)
  • 2010: Washington, DC, USA - ESH iCML 12th International Conference: Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Biological Basis of Therapy
  • 2008: Boston, Massachusetts, USA - ESH 11th International Conference: Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Biological Basis of Therapy

Publications

List by: Type | Date

Jump to: 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009
Number of items: 24.

2018

Mitchell, R. et al. (2018) Targeting BCR-ABL independent TKI resistance in chronic myeloid leukaemia by mTOR and autophagy inhibition. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 110(5), pp. 467-478. (doi:10.1093/jnci/djx236) (PMID:29165716)

Pellicano, F. et al. (2018) Hsa-mir183/EGR1-mediated regulation of E2F1 is required for CML stem/progenitor cell survival. Blood, 131(14), pp. 1532-1544. (doi:10.1182/blood-2017-05-783845) (PMID:29437554)

de Beauchamp, L., Baquero, P., Kuntz, E. M., Gottlieb, E. and Helgason, G. V. (2018) Auto-commentary on: “Targeting mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation eradicates therapy-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia stem cells”. Molecular and Cellular Oncology, 5(1), e1403532. (doi:10.1080/23723556.2017.1403532) (PMID:28920959)

2017

Kuntz, E. M., Baquero, P., Michie, A. M. , Dunn, K., Tardito, S., Holyoake, T. L., Helgason, G. V. and Gottlieb, E. (2017) Targeting mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation eradicates therapy-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia stem cells. Nature Medicine, 23(10), pp. 1234-1240. (doi:10.1038/nm.4399) (PMID:28920959)

Horne, G. , Jackson, L. , Helgason, V. and Holyoake, T. L. (2017) Stem cell guardians – old and new perspectives in LSC biology. Current Drug Targets, 18(4), pp. 405-413. (doi:10.2174/1389450117666160712092944) (PMID:27411711)

2016

Schemionek, M. et al. (2016) MTSS1 is a critical epigenetically regulated tumor suppressor in CML. Leukemia, 30(4), pp. 823-830. (doi:10.1038/leu.2015.329) (PMID:26621336)

Karvela, M. et al. (2016) ATG7 regulates energy metabolism, differentiation and survival of Philadelphia chromosome-positive cells. Autophagy, 12(6), pp. 936-948. (doi:10.1080/15548627.2016.1162359) (PMID:27168493) (PMCID:PMC4922442)

2015

Holyoake, T. L. and Helgason, G. V. (2015) Do we need more drugs for chronic myeloid leukemia? Immunological Reviews, 263(1), pp. 106-123. (doi:10.1111/imr.12234) (PMID:25510274)

2014

Klionsky, D. J. et al. (2014) Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy. Autophagy, 8(4), pp. 445-544. (doi:10.4161/auto.19496) (PMID:22966490) (PMCID:PMC3404883)

Pellicano, F. et al. (2014) The antiproliferative activity of kinase inhibitors in chronic myeloid leukemia cells is mediated by FOXO transcription factors. Stem Cells, 32(9), pp. 2324-2337. (doi:10.1002/stem.1748) (PMID:24806995) (PMCID:PMC4282530)

2013

Nencioni, A., Cea, M., Montecucco, F., Longo, V.D., Patrone, F., Carella, A.M., Holyoake, T.L. and Helgason, G.V. (2013) Autophagy in blood cancers: biological role and therapeutic implications. Haematologica, 98(9), pp. 1335-1343. (doi:10.3324/haematol.2012.079061)

Helgason, G.V., Mukhopadhyay, A., Karvela, M., Salomoni, P., Calabretta, B. and Holyoake, T.L. (2013) Autophagy in chronic myeloid leukaemia: stem cell survival and implication in therapy. Current Cancer Drug Targets, 13(7), pp. 724-34.

Helgason, G.V., Holyoake, T.L. and Ryan, K.M. (2013) Role of autophagy in cancer prevention, development and therapy. Essays in Biochemistry, 55(1), pp. 133-151. (doi:10.1042/BSE0550133)

2012

Karvela, M., Mukhopadhyay, A., Allan, E., Helgason, G.V. and Holyoake, T. (2012) Specific inhibition of autophagy enhances TKI-induced death in CML cells. British Journal of Haematology, 157(S1), p. 58. (doi:10.1111/j.1365-2141.2012.09071.x)

MacKay, C.E., Allen, E.K., Mukhopadhyay, A., Karvela, M., Holyoake, T., Jorgensen, H. and Helgason, V. (2012) Effect of BCR-ABL inhibition on induction of autophagy in chronic myeloid leukaemia cells. British Journal of Haematology, 157(S1), p. 58. (doi:10.1111/j.1365-2141.2012.09071.x)

Karvela, M., Helgason, G. V. and Holyoake, T. L. (2012) Mechanisms and novel approaches in overriding tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia. Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy, 12(3), pp. 381-392. (doi:10.1586/ERA.12.10)

Hamilton, A. et al. (2012) Chronic myeloid leukemia stem cells are not dependent on Bcr-Abl kinase activity for their survival. Blood, 119(6), pp. 1501-1510. (doi:10.1182/blood-2010-12-326843)

2011

Helgason, G. V., Karvela, M. and Holyoake, T. L. (2011) Kill one bird with two stones: potential efficacy of BCR-ABL and autophagy inhibition in CML. Blood, 118(8), pp. 2035-2043. (doi:10.1182/blood-2011-01-330621)

Mukhopadhyay, A., Helgason, G. V., Karvela, M. and Holyoake, T. L. (2011) Hydroxychloroquine for chronic myeloid leukemia: complete cure on the horizon? Expert Review of Hematology, 4(4), pp. 369-371. (doi:10.1586/ehm.11.34)

Pellicano, F., Simara, P., Sinclair, A., Helgason, G.V., Copland, M., Grant, S. and Holyoake, T.L. (2011) The MEK inhibitor PD184352 enhances BMS-214662-induced apoptosis in CD34+ CML stem/progenitor cells. Leukemia, 25(7), pp. 1159-67. (doi:10.1038/leu.2011.67)

2010

Helgason, V., Young, G. and Holyoake, T. (2010) Targeting chronic myeloid leukemia stem cells. Current Hematologic Malignancy Reports, 5(2), pp. 81-87. (doi:10.1007/s11899-010-0043-0)

Helgason, G.V., O'Prey, J. and Ryan, K.M. (2010) Oncogene-induced sensitization to chemotherapy-induced death requires induction as well as deregulation of E2F1. Cancer Research, 70(10), pp. 4074-4080. (doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-09-2876)

2009

Bellodi, C. et al. (2009) Targeting autophagy potentiates tyrosine kinase inhibitor–induced cell death in Philadelphia chromosome–positive cells, including primary CML stem cells. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 119(5), pp. 1109-1123. (doi:10.1172/JCI35660)

Myssina, S. et al. (2009) Combined BCR-ABL inhibition with lentiviral-delivered shRNA and dasatinib augments induction of apoptosis in Philadelphia-positive cells. Experimental Hematology, 37(2), pp. 206-214. (doi:10.1016/j.exphem.2008.10.013)

This list was generated on Mon Jul 23 00:51:00 2018 BST.
Jump to: Articles
Number of items: 24.

Articles

Mitchell, R. et al. (2018) Targeting BCR-ABL independent TKI resistance in chronic myeloid leukaemia by mTOR and autophagy inhibition. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 110(5), pp. 467-478. (doi:10.1093/jnci/djx236) (PMID:29165716)

Pellicano, F. et al. (2018) Hsa-mir183/EGR1-mediated regulation of E2F1 is required for CML stem/progenitor cell survival. Blood, 131(14), pp. 1532-1544. (doi:10.1182/blood-2017-05-783845) (PMID:29437554)

de Beauchamp, L., Baquero, P., Kuntz, E. M., Gottlieb, E. and Helgason, G. V. (2018) Auto-commentary on: “Targeting mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation eradicates therapy-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia stem cells”. Molecular and Cellular Oncology, 5(1), e1403532. (doi:10.1080/23723556.2017.1403532) (PMID:28920959)

Kuntz, E. M., Baquero, P., Michie, A. M. , Dunn, K., Tardito, S., Holyoake, T. L., Helgason, G. V. and Gottlieb, E. (2017) Targeting mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation eradicates therapy-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia stem cells. Nature Medicine, 23(10), pp. 1234-1240. (doi:10.1038/nm.4399) (PMID:28920959)

Horne, G. , Jackson, L. , Helgason, V. and Holyoake, T. L. (2017) Stem cell guardians – old and new perspectives in LSC biology. Current Drug Targets, 18(4), pp. 405-413. (doi:10.2174/1389450117666160712092944) (PMID:27411711)

Schemionek, M. et al. (2016) MTSS1 is a critical epigenetically regulated tumor suppressor in CML. Leukemia, 30(4), pp. 823-830. (doi:10.1038/leu.2015.329) (PMID:26621336)

Karvela, M. et al. (2016) ATG7 regulates energy metabolism, differentiation and survival of Philadelphia chromosome-positive cells. Autophagy, 12(6), pp. 936-948. (doi:10.1080/15548627.2016.1162359) (PMID:27168493) (PMCID:PMC4922442)

Holyoake, T. L. and Helgason, G. V. (2015) Do we need more drugs for chronic myeloid leukemia? Immunological Reviews, 263(1), pp. 106-123. (doi:10.1111/imr.12234) (PMID:25510274)

Klionsky, D. J. et al. (2014) Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy. Autophagy, 8(4), pp. 445-544. (doi:10.4161/auto.19496) (PMID:22966490) (PMCID:PMC3404883)

Pellicano, F. et al. (2014) The antiproliferative activity of kinase inhibitors in chronic myeloid leukemia cells is mediated by FOXO transcription factors. Stem Cells, 32(9), pp. 2324-2337. (doi:10.1002/stem.1748) (PMID:24806995) (PMCID:PMC4282530)

Nencioni, A., Cea, M., Montecucco, F., Longo, V.D., Patrone, F., Carella, A.M., Holyoake, T.L. and Helgason, G.V. (2013) Autophagy in blood cancers: biological role and therapeutic implications. Haematologica, 98(9), pp. 1335-1343. (doi:10.3324/haematol.2012.079061)

Helgason, G.V., Mukhopadhyay, A., Karvela, M., Salomoni, P., Calabretta, B. and Holyoake, T.L. (2013) Autophagy in chronic myeloid leukaemia: stem cell survival and implication in therapy. Current Cancer Drug Targets, 13(7), pp. 724-34.

Helgason, G.V., Holyoake, T.L. and Ryan, K.M. (2013) Role of autophagy in cancer prevention, development and therapy. Essays in Biochemistry, 55(1), pp. 133-151. (doi:10.1042/BSE0550133)

Karvela, M., Mukhopadhyay, A., Allan, E., Helgason, G.V. and Holyoake, T. (2012) Specific inhibition of autophagy enhances TKI-induced death in CML cells. British Journal of Haematology, 157(S1), p. 58. (doi:10.1111/j.1365-2141.2012.09071.x)

MacKay, C.E., Allen, E.K., Mukhopadhyay, A., Karvela, M., Holyoake, T., Jorgensen, H. and Helgason, V. (2012) Effect of BCR-ABL inhibition on induction of autophagy in chronic myeloid leukaemia cells. British Journal of Haematology, 157(S1), p. 58. (doi:10.1111/j.1365-2141.2012.09071.x)

Karvela, M., Helgason, G. V. and Holyoake, T. L. (2012) Mechanisms and novel approaches in overriding tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia. Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy, 12(3), pp. 381-392. (doi:10.1586/ERA.12.10)

Hamilton, A. et al. (2012) Chronic myeloid leukemia stem cells are not dependent on Bcr-Abl kinase activity for their survival. Blood, 119(6), pp. 1501-1510. (doi:10.1182/blood-2010-12-326843)

Helgason, G. V., Karvela, M. and Holyoake, T. L. (2011) Kill one bird with two stones: potential efficacy of BCR-ABL and autophagy inhibition in CML. Blood, 118(8), pp. 2035-2043. (doi:10.1182/blood-2011-01-330621)

Mukhopadhyay, A., Helgason, G. V., Karvela, M. and Holyoake, T. L. (2011) Hydroxychloroquine for chronic myeloid leukemia: complete cure on the horizon? Expert Review of Hematology, 4(4), pp. 369-371. (doi:10.1586/ehm.11.34)

Pellicano, F., Simara, P., Sinclair, A., Helgason, G.V., Copland, M., Grant, S. and Holyoake, T.L. (2011) The MEK inhibitor PD184352 enhances BMS-214662-induced apoptosis in CD34+ CML stem/progenitor cells. Leukemia, 25(7), pp. 1159-67. (doi:10.1038/leu.2011.67)

Helgason, V., Young, G. and Holyoake, T. (2010) Targeting chronic myeloid leukemia stem cells. Current Hematologic Malignancy Reports, 5(2), pp. 81-87. (doi:10.1007/s11899-010-0043-0)

Helgason, G.V., O'Prey, J. and Ryan, K.M. (2010) Oncogene-induced sensitization to chemotherapy-induced death requires induction as well as deregulation of E2F1. Cancer Research, 70(10), pp. 4074-4080. (doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-09-2876)

Bellodi, C. et al. (2009) Targeting autophagy potentiates tyrosine kinase inhibitor–induced cell death in Philadelphia chromosome–positive cells, including primary CML stem cells. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 119(5), pp. 1109-1123. (doi:10.1172/JCI35660)

Myssina, S. et al. (2009) Combined BCR-ABL inhibition with lentiviral-delivered shRNA and dasatinib augments induction of apoptosis in Philadelphia-positive cells. Experimental Hematology, 37(2), pp. 206-214. (doi:10.1016/j.exphem.2008.10.013)

This list was generated on Mon Jul 23 00:51:00 2018 BST.


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Leukaemia and Autophagy Therapeutics