Dr Vignir Helgason is a Senior Lecturer in Cancer Research at the Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow. Dr Helgason graduated with a B.Sc. in Biology from the University of Iceland in 2000 and worked at deCODE genetics (Reykjavik, Iceland) for three years before embarking on an academic career.

He trained for a PhD degree in Prof. Kevin Ryan’s “Tumour Cell Death Laboratory” at the Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute and graduated with a PhD from University of Glasgow in October 2007. Dr Helgason 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.”

In 2013, Dr Helgason was awarded a Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund Research Fellowship that supports “truly outstanding biomedical scientists prior to establishing an independent research group in an international centre of excellence”. This facilitated a successful application to the University of Glasgow’s flagship Leadership Fellowship scheme, which allowed Dr Helgason to setup his own research group at the world-class Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre (WWCRC). Additionally, Dr Helgason was awarded the John Goldman Fellowship for Future Science, a prestigious award aimed at those with “passion for science, a desire to develop new ideas and translate scientific advances into clinical practice”.

Through additional studentship/grant applications, collaborations, conferences, meetings and high-impact publications Dr Helgason achieved a promotion to a tenured Senior Lecturer in Cancer Research position in June 2018.

Leukaemia Stem Cells - Autophagy - Cancer Metabolism - Leukaemia Niche.

Dr Helgason’s team focuses on “Bench to Bedside” translational research and is directly in line with Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, CRUK Beatson Institute and CRUK Glasgow Cancer Centre vision and strategy. So far, the team has primarily focused on Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML), a tumour type in which Glasgow has particular clinical expertise and excising translational projects. The team has emerging interest in related leukaemias and myeloproliferative neoplasms, with the overall aim of targeting appropriate therapy to the stem cell compartment to remove the population in which drug resistance occurs. All on-going projects relate to targeting: “Leukaemia Stem Cells” - “Autophagy” - “Cancer Metabolism” - “Leukaemia Niche”.

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
   

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

Other Invited Oral Presentations
2019:    LifeArc, SBC Open Innovation Campus, Stevenage, London, UK.   
2018:    MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford, UK.
2018:    Georg Speyer Haus, Frankfurt, Germany.
2018:    CR-UK Beatson Institute Retreat at Crieff Hydro, Scotland.
2017:    Imperial College/Hammersmith Hospital, London.
2014:    ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

Selected International Oral Presentation by Staff
2019:   Keystone Symposia. Autophagy: From Model Systems to Therapeutic Opportunities, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA.
Abstract from my PhD student selected for short oral presentation.
2017:    European Hematology Association (EHA). 22nd Congress of EHA, Madrid, Spain.
Oral presentation by my Post-doc.
2016:    58th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, San Diego, USA.
Oral presentation by my PhD student.
2016:     European Institute of Oncology (IEO). Hematological Malignancies: From Mechanism to Therapy, Milan, Italy.
Oral presentation by my PhD student.

Organisation of Scientifics Meetings
2019    Chair and main organiser for the 2019 Annual Autophagy-UK Network Meeting
(>100 participants). 21st-22nd May 2019 Glasgow, UK.
2019    Scientific Committee Member for the 2019 Beatson International Cancer Conference.
30th June - 3rd July 2019 Glasgow, UK.
2018    Session Chair, Stem Cells and the Microenvironment Scientific Session, 20th Annual John Goldman Conference on CML (>400 participants). Miami, USA
2015 -  Member of the Autophagy-UK Network Meeting Steering Committee. UK.
2011 -  Workshop Convener on three occasions at the Annual John Goldman Conference on CML (~100 participants each time). Europe/USA.
Reviewing Activities
2013 -  Journal Reviewer for >20 journals including:
Blood, Leukemia, Autophagy, Cell Death and Differentiation, Cell Death and Disease, Leukemia Research, Stem Cells, Cancer Research.
2013 -  Grant Reviewer for Research Councils/Charities including:
Medical Research Council (MRC), Wellcome Trust, European Haematology Association (EHA), Worldwide Cancer Research, Bloodwise, Leuka, Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund (KKLF).
2014 -  Fondazione Cariplo Grant Review Panel member (Biomedical research conducted by your researchers). Italy.
2018 -  Local Scientific Advisory Committee (LSAC) member, Tenovus Scotland, UK.
2019    Expert reviewer of abstracts submitted under the topic “CML - Biology & Translational Research” for the 24th Congress of European Haematology Association (EHA).

Institutional Responsibilities
2018 -  Chair of GMO Safety Committee. Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow.
(Member of the GMC Safety Committee since 2014).
2013 -  MBChB Advisor of Studies (~20 students/year). University of Glasgow.
2013 -  PhD examination as an internal and external examiner. Assessments for MSc/PhD students and Clinical Research Fellows. University of Glasgow.
2018    Co-ordinator. MSc in Cancer Sciences: Hallmarks of Cancer. University of Glasgow.

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