Professor Chris Halsey

Biography

Chris is a clinical academic paediatric haematologist and Head of the School of Cancer Sciences in Glasgow, leading 200 staff and 200 postgraduate students to carry out their mission to perform patient-centred science to transform cancer outcomes. Chris’s particular research focus is on central nervous system (CNS) involvement in acute leukaemia. Current treatments for CNS leukaemia are toxic and there is a lack of novel therapies in this area. This represents a major unmet clinical need. Her laboratory researches how leukaemic cells adapt to the nutrient poor CNS microenvironment, novel biomarkers to guide treatment and ways to reduce neurotoxicity of current chemotherapy agents. They aim to develop kinder and gentler treatments personalised to each child’s risk of CNS relapse. In the wider context, Chris is involved in many international Paediatric leukaemia initiatives such as the Altogether Consortium and the Ponte di Legno Toxicity Group. She also has expertise in leading biological sub studies in clinical trials (CSF-FLOW, BioCAN, BRAIN), biomarker research (cfDNA, metabolomics and proteomics) and experience of translating discovery science into early phase trials (eg SeluDex trial: NCT03705507).