Dr Pamela Kearns
Current Position: Consultant Senior Lecturer in Paediatric Oncology, Institute for Cancer Studies, University of Birmingham (from Feb 2007)
Contact: You may contact me via the University of Birmingham ( http://www.bham.ac.uk)
Previous Position: Senior Clinical Lecturer, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol,
Qualifications: BSc (Hons) Physiology, Aberdeen 1982, MB ChB Aberdeen 1988, MRCP (UK) Paediatrics 1993, MRCPCH 1996, PhD Newcastle 2000 (LRF Clinical ResearchTraining Fellowship)
Research: My primary research interest is Experimental Therapeutics in Childhood Leukaemia with a long-term research vision to focus on refractory and relapsed leukaemia and develop innovative, targeted interventional therapy based on the characterisation of the genetic/epigenetic and pharmacological basis of their disease resistance. I participate in bothearly clinical trials research and in laboratory-based research.
Clinical Research: My clinical research activity is in Phase I and II clinical trials, in particular for childhood leukaemia. I am member of the UKCCSG New Agents Group, ITCC Clinical Trials Group and liaise with the UK ALL and AML Task Forces on early clinical trials development for leukaemia
Laboratory-based Research: My research group is based in the Paediatric Oncology Exerimental Therapeutics Lab, in the Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Bristol. We have access to a wide range of experimental expertise within the Faculty of Medical Sciences and in the Clinical Department of Paediatric Oncology and Haematology, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. Our research is conducted in close collaboration with Dr Allison Blair’s leukaemia stem cell research group.
Our current research is focussed on the following 3 areas:
Publications:
Burke A, Townsend S., Patel D., Goulden. N., Kearns P Glutathione in childhood acute lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) prednisolone resistance and rate of proliferation Double trouble? British Journal of Cancer 2003 88(suppl 1) 53 (abstract)
Burke A, Kearns P, Goulden. N.,Evidence for a redox mechanism of action of prednisolone in childhood acute lymphoblastic Leukaemia through the identification of a novel gene CGI-31 British Journal of Cancer 2003 88 (suppl 1) 53 (abstract)
Kearns P.R., Chrzanowska-Lightowlers Z.M.A., Pieters R., Veerman A., Hall A.G.Mu class glutathione S-transferase mRNA isoform expression in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia British Journal of Haematology. 2003 Jan;120(1):80-8
Rodgers J., Marcus R., Kearns P., Windebank KAttentional ability amongst survivors of leukaemia treated without cranial irradiation Archives of Diseases in Childhood. 2003 Feb;88(2):147-50
Kearns P., Pieters R., Rottier M.M.A., Pearson A.D.J., Hall A.G.Raised blast glutathione levels are associated with increased risk of relaspe in childhood acute leukaemia Blood 2001 97, 393-398
Den Boer, M.L., Pieters P., Janke-shaub G.E., Henze G., Creutzig U., Kaspers G.J.L., Kearns P.R., Hall A.G., Person A.D.J., Veerman A.J.P. Different expression of glutathione S-Transferases alpha, mu and pi in childhood acute lymphoblastic and myeloid leukaemia British journal of Haematology 1999, 104, 321-327
Kearns P., Pieters R., Rottier M.M.A., Veerman A.J.P., Schiemegelow K., Pearson A.D.J., Hall A.G. Glutathione in childhood leukaemias Advances in. Experimental and. Medical Biology 1999, 457, 211-6
Kearns P., Hall A. Microtitre plate technique for the measurement of glutathione in fresh and cryopreserved lymphoblasts using the enzyme re-cycling Methods in Molecular Medicine 1999, vol. 28, 8, 83-90
Kearns P., Pieters R., Rottier M.M.A., Veerman A.J.P, Schiemegelow K., Pearson A.D.J. and Hall A.G., Glutathione levels in leukaemic blasts, British Journal of Cancer, 1998, (abstract)
Kearns P., Pieters R., Rottier M.M.A., Veerman A.J.P, Schiemegelow K., Pearson A.D.J. and Hall A.G., Glutathione in acute childhood leukaemias. In Drug Resistance in Leukaemia and Lymphoma III 1998 , Eds. Pieters R. Kaspers GJL. and Veerman A. (abstract)
Yule, S.M., Kearns P and Hall A.G. Alkylating agent resistance in paediatric oncologyInternational Journal of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, 1997, 4, (6), 613-628
Matheson E., Norden J., Kearns P. and Hall A.Expression of m class glutathione S transferases correlates with event free survival in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Drug Resistance in Leukemia and Lymphoma II, Advances in Blood Disorders, 1995 387-393, Eds. Pieters R. Kaspers GJL. and Veerman A.