Dr Vignir Helgason
- Senior Lecturer (Translational Research Centre)
telephone: 0141 330 7245
email: Vignir.Helgason@glasgow.ac.uk
.gif)
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1616-132XResearch 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.
- Targeting mitochondrial fuel oxidation for the treatment of chronic and acute myeloid leukaemias
Bloodwise
2018 - 2021
- 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
