Chris Jones - Profile
Dr Chris Jones is investigating the genetics of paediatric cancer, with the ultimate aim of translating these basic molecular pathology findings into more accurate diagnoses and better treatments for children. He has led the Paediatric Molecular Pathology Team in the ICR’s Section of Paediatric Oncology since 2003.
Dr Jones’ team concentrates on scanning the genome of paediatric tumours using cutting-edge technology including the statistical modelling system they developed as part of the research. Their aim is to find the genes that are driving development of these cancers and those allowing the tumours to become resistant to therapy, and they are now systematically studying candidate genes.
The team initially focused on Wilms tumour, the most common childhood kidney cancer, before turning their attention to an understudied and devastating brain tumour, paediatric high-grade gliomas. They have since developed the most detailed picture to date of the genome of these aggressive cancers. As these tumours are rare, Dr Jones has forged collaborations with other international organisations in order to collect samples that cover the spectrum of potential variations and conduct the most comprehensive possible analysis. Dr Jones’ work has already revealed some significant genetic differences between the adult and child form of the disease and highlighted potential new drug targets.
“There is a real unmet clinical and basic science need in this tumour type, as paediatric high grade gliomas are incredibly resistant to current treatment options, and we really know very little about the underlying biology of the disease,” Dr Jones says. ”Our ambitions within the lab are to turn some of our lab-based hypotheses into real, molecularly-based treatments for malignant paediatric gliomas, and to see, at last, real progress being made in the survival of children with these dreadful cancers.”
Dr Jones joined the ICR in 2001 as a Senior Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Breakthrough Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre, spending two years studying myoepithelial cells and basal-like breast cancers. Prior to this he investigated the molecular genetics of different types of breast tumours at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research at University College London. He has also studied the molecular genetics of pre-invasive breast disease at the Royal Free and University College Medical School in London.
“There is no doubt as to the advantages offered by working at the ICR - the very close interactions we have with our clinical colleagues at the Royal Marsden Hospital, and the unique academic drug discovery programme embedded within the ICR itself make it an excellent place to conduct research,” Dr Jones says.
Dr Jones achieved his PhD in 1997 at the University of London, after first attaining a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours in Toxicology and Pharmacology. He was elected Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists in 2008 for his significant contribution to molecular pathology research. Dr Jones also serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Clinical Pathology and PLoS ONE and is reviews grant proposals for a number of charities and organisations including Breast Cancer Campaign, Children with Leukaemia and the Medical Research Council.
Dr Jones grew up in Western Australia but has lived in Texas and completed a research project for Novartis in Switzerland. In his spare time, Dr Jones enjoys running marathons, listening to new music, drinking Italian wine and spending time with his family.
