Dr Walid Khaled

Biography

I read for my undergraduate degree at the University of Edinburgh followed by a Maters degree at Imperial College, London working with Prof. Eric Lam on the PI3K pathway and cell cycle regulation (2001-2002). I did my PhD training with Prof. Christine Watson, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge where I focused on the role of Stat6 in mammary gland development (2002-2007). After my PhD, I was awarded a junior research fellowship at King's College, Cambridge (2008-2012). The fellowship allowed me to stay for a short post-doc with Prof. Watson during which I identified a novel cell fate regulator Zfp157 (2007-2009). In 2009 I joined the Sanger Institute to work with Dr. Pentao Liu. During my time at Sanger I worked on the connection between cell fate regulation and breast cancer development particularly focusing on the transcription regulator BCL11A. In October 2013, I was appointed as a University Lecturer and group leader at the Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge. In my group, I aim to establish a research programme focusing on the cellular and molecular characterisation of breast cancer heterogeneity and the development of novel methods for the treatment of breast cancer. I have also initiated a collaboration with Dr. Ewan St John Smith (Department of Pharmacology) to identify tumour suppressor genes in the naked mole-rat using CRISPR and piggybac genetic screening approaches.

Research Interest

Cellular and molecular characterization of breast cancer heterogeneity