Tom Bird’s group studies abnormal liver regeneration particularly in liver cancer: hepatocellular carcinoma. We specialise in complex genetically engineered preclinical models developed around human drivers of this cancer. Professor Tom Bird Professor of Hepatobiliary Cancer/ Honorary Consultant Hepatologist / Senior Clinical Lecturer, University of Glasgow Centre for Inflammation Research Contact details Website: Beatson Lab website Website: ORCiD Work: 07890 158 877 Email: tom.bird@ed.ac.uk Group MembersStephanie May Principal Scientific Officer (April 2020 to current)Toshi Susuki Post Doctoral Scientist (Sept 2022 to current)Fiona Chalmers Post Doctoral Scientist (May 2023 to current)Anastasia Georgakopoulou – Scientific Officer (October 2023 to current)Kyi Lai Yin Swe – Scientific Officer (December 2023 to current)Bashaer Alqarafi – Intern (September to current)All based at CRUK Scotland InstituteBackgroundLiver cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide and its incidence is increasing rapidly in the UK, and particularly Scotland. Despite some improvements in outcomes for those patients in whom the disease is detected early, there remains a limited range of only minimally effective treatment options for the overwhelming majority of patients who have their disease detected at a later stage. Precision medicine offers the potential to target more effective therapies to individuals with different forms of this disease, across this highly heterogeneous cancer.Research VisionFrom the development of these models we wish to understand the biological processes that drive different cancers in individual patients. This we aim to identify and develop new forms of therapies for liver cancer, using precision medicine to target the most effective therapies to individual patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.Research Overview Image My group has been interested in studying the regenerative responses to injury and aberrant proliferative responses in cancer of hepatocytes, the principle functional cell of the liver. These cells show immense regenerative capacity but are also the principle source of the most common primary liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).We have described how these cells enter a state of shock, named senescence, in response to injury, and how preventing them from doing so can promote liver regeneration. We are also investigating how this same senescent state occurs during early cancer formation as an anti-cancer therapeutic target.To further understand these processes, we have developed a state-of-the-art suite of genetically engineered models of HCC, which mimic many key features of the human condition. This suite is based upon the range of genetic mutations which drive HCC across the spectrum of human disease. Working with academic and industrial collaborators, we are using these avatar-like models to uncover and test novel therapies, which could be used to target precision medicine dependent on the underlying characteristics of tumours in different patients.The following PDF provides a brief visual summary of this group’s current research. Document Bird Group graphic summary (667.68 KB / PDF) You can view a full catalogue of graphical research summaries for each group in the Centre for Inflammation Research by visiting our Research page.Visit CIR’s Research pageBiographical ProfileTom Bird undertook medical training in Oxford, during which time he was research active in immunology and infectious diseases. Having chosen his clinical specialty, he then completed a Wellcome Trust funded PhD at the MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, Edinburgh studying liver regeneration. During completion of specialist training in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, he was awarded a Lecturer post at University of Edinburgh and was subsequently awarded a Wellcome Trust Intermediate Fellowship, during which he has established an independent research group at the CRUK Beatson Institute in Glasgow. He has subsequently been awarded Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer status in Glasgow and, following award of a Rising Star award by the United European Gastroenterology Society, was promoted to a Readership post in 2020 by Edinburgh University. He now uses cutting-edge, genetically engineered, preclinical models to study basic biology in liver cancer to improve therapy and outcomes for patients.Honours and Awards2019: UEG Rising Star award – annual award by United European Gastroenterology2019: Francis Avery Jones Medal Winner – annual award by British Society of Gastroenterology2015: Academy of Medical Sciences Oral Plenary presentation award2015: Andy Burroughs Young Investigator Award: Hepatologist research2015: BSG Young Gastroenterologist of the Year - Clinical & Translational Science 2014: Wilfred Card Lectureship: Annual prize for clinical research2011: BASL Sheila Sherlock Prize: Hepatology research annual prize2011: ESOT-best scientific presentation: Awarded at Liver Transplant Programme Course2009: Anne Ferguson Prize: Best oral presentation Scottish Society of Gastroenterology2007: Miss Urquhart Charitable Trust Award: Award for clinical research 2006: British Society of Gastroenterology Traveling Fellowship2001: Griffith's Memorial Travelling Scholarship: Annual award for studies abroad.2001: A representative for the Queen's Award for Higher Education and Training: awarded by Her Majesty The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace2001: Martin Lawrence Memorial Scholarship: Award for clinical medical training abroad.2000: Paul Hayes Memorial Scholarship: Academic and Sporting Achievement, Oxford2000: Hobson Mann Scholarship: Oxford University Clinical Medical School Scholarship2000: Gotch Memorial Prize: Award by Oxford University for Scientific Research1999: Wronker Dissertation Prize: Annual award for Best Dissertation in Physiology Finals (Ox)1998: Undergraduate Scholar of Keble College OxfordPublic Engagement ActivitesLobbying for liver cancer prevention (Herald Scotland website)Basic research - Radio 4 Today programme, Aug 2018 Cancer epidemiology - BBC Reporting Scotland 2018 (Youtube website)British Liver Trust – Love your Liver RoadshowOther responsibilitiesSpecialist clinic in liver cancer (HCC)Member of the Hepatopancreatobiliary Multidisciplinary Team – Royal Infirmary of EdinburghTheme Lead for HCC – CRUK Scotland CentreHCC-UK Education and Conference co-leadWellcome Trust DSV03 Advisory GroupOrganiser: HUNTER Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) preclinical models workshopLead CUBIC biomarker working partyHUNTER HCC Accelerator – preclinical models work package leadMember of HCC-UK/NCRAS Steering Group MeetingCRUK Scotland Institute Faculty MemberCollaboratorsOwen Sansom - Beatson InstituteFiona Oakley - Newcastle UniversityDerek Mann - Newcastle UniversityTim Kendall - Edinburgh UniversityStuart Forbes - Edinburgh UniversityRuth King - Edinburgh UniversitySteve Wigmore - Edinburgh UniversityNeil Henderson, Edinburgh University Leo Carlin - Beatson InstituteKristina Kirschner - Glasgow UniversityCrispin Miller - Beatson InstituteLuke Boulter - Edinburgh UniversityMarcel Utz - Southampton UniversityMarkus Heim - University of Basel Go to the Edinburgh Research Explorer Sources of FundingCRUK Clinical Research Committee: CUBIC Phase 1b/2 Clinical trial in HCCTenovus Scotland Research Grant (co-applicant) Wellcome Trust Intermediate Clinical Fellowship extension RCSEd – Small research pump priming grant (co-applicant) CRUK Accelerator (joint work package lead) Medical Research Scotland – Vacation Scholarship ` Liver Transplant Endowment Fund Chief Scientist's Office for Scotland Catalyst Grant Wellcome Trust Intermediate Clinical FellowshipMore information on funding at Tom Bird's Research Explorer profile. This article was published on 2024-09-10