John Ashton
Senior Lecturer
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
University of Otago School of Biomedical Sciences
New Zealand
Biography
Dr John Ashton is a Senior Lecturer in Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at University of Otago School of Biomedical Sciences, New Zealand. He has a long standing research program investigating the role of the endocannabinoid system in ischaemic brain injury and in neuropathic pain. His research interest lies in ALK+ cancer and cannabinoid research. He is the author of several articles published in many reputed journals.
Research Interest
Non-small cell lung cancer is difficult to treat and causes more cancer related mortality than any other cancer in the developed world. Although lung cancer has been associated with smoking, the majority people with lung cancer are now non smokers. Treatment has been revolutionised in recent years by the introduction of targeted therapies - such that life expectancy has been doubled for a sub-population of patients. My research is focused on lung cancer driven by mutations to the ALK protein, the mechanisms of action of drugs that target ALK, and mechanisms of cancer drug resistance.
