Thomas Cox
Conjoint Senior Lecturer
Matrix and Metastasis
Garvan Institute of Medical Research
Australia
Biography
Thomas is a cancer cell biologist working in the field of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and ECM remodelling in the progression and metastasis of solid tumours. He graduated with a Ph.D. from the University of Durham, UK in 2008 and moved to the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London as a PostDoc. Then, in 2012 he relocated to Copenhagen University to continue his research in the laboratory of Professor Janine Erler, before moving to the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in 2016 to set up his own group. Thomas currently leads the Matrix and Metastasis Group at Garvan in The Kinghorn Cancer Centre. The group focuses on how the extracellular matrix (ECM) regulates resident cell behaviour and specifically how it alters cancer cell response to therapeutics. In particular they work on the role of Lysyl Oxidase (LOX) and Lysyl Oxidase Like (LOXL) family members in regulating both the biochemical and biomechanical properties of the ECM during fibrosis, cancer progression and metastasis. The group's research has deepened our understanding of the impact that post-translational modification of the ECM has on tumour signalling pathways including Akt, VEGF, FAK and Src signalling. Ultimately, the aim of the Matrix and Metastasis group is to establish targeting of ECM dynamics as a viable therapeutic approach in the treatment of solid cancers.
Research Interest
Extracellular Matrix Cancer Metastasis Breast Cancer Colorectal Cancer Lysyl Oxidases Biomechanics Targeted therapies
Publications
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Baker AM, Bird D, Welti J, Gourlaouen M, Lang G, Murray G, Reynolds AR, Cox TR, Erler JT Cancer Research (2013)
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Madsen CD, Pedersen JT, Venning FA, Singh LB, Moeendarbary E, Charras G, Cox TR, Sahai E, Erler JT EMBO Reports (2015)
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Cox TR, Rumney RMH, Schoof EM, Perryman L, Høye AM, Agrawal A, Bird, D, Ab Latif N, Forrest H, Evans HR, Huggins ID, Lang G, Linding R, Gartland A, Erler JT Nature (2015)
