Frances Balkwill is a cancer researcher at Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London. She studies the tumour microenvironment, the dynamic mix of malignant and immune cells, blood vessels and other ostensibly normal cells found in most cancers. She has made paradigm-shifting discoveries on the role of cytokines in cancer promotion, that led to clinical trials. Frances's current work focuses on ovarian cancer. Her group studies tumour microenvironment regulation and immune therapies using novel pre-clinical models, including 'cancer-on-a-chip' mini-human tumours.
She has written twelve and edited a further six children’s science books with graphic designer Mic Rolph; approximately 500,000 books have been printed with ten foreign editions. She founded and directs Centre of the Cell, Queen Mary's informal science education centre that has had 245,000 participants to date. The first science centre be located within biomedical research laboratories, Centre of the Cell seeks to positively impact on educational, career and health choices of young people and families with its digital interactive STEM Pod, workshops and shows in Neuron Pod, outreach, mentoring and volunteering opportunities.
Professional position
- Professor of Cancer Biology, Centre for Tumour Microenvironment, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Subject groups
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Molecules of Life
Cell biology (incl molecular cell biology), Molecular immunology
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Cell Biology
Cellular pathology
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Multicellular Organisms
Physiology and medicine (non-clinical)
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Health and Human Sciences
Molecular medicine
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Other
Public engagement
