Global impact for blood cancer research at Glasgow Caledonian
Glasgow Caledonian University blood cancer scientist Dr Mark Williams and PhD student Ebube Nwarunma were invited to attend the American Society of Hematology (ASH) conference in San Diego to showcase their latest research.
Dr Williams was delighted that his Nigerian PhD candidate (focusing on immuno-oncology) Ebube, who works closely with him in the Williams Blood Cancer Research Group, in the Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, was asked to give a talk and poster presentation on their research tackling drug-resistance in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) patients.
Chemotherapy is a treatment designed to destroy cancer cells but some cancers find ways to survive, making treatment less effective. Ebube’s research focuses on a surprising way cancer cells gain this resistance - by "stealing" mitochondria (the tiny powerhouses that generate energy) from immune cells called macrophages.
“It’s like cancer cells secretly borrowing a backup battery to keep themselves alive, even when chemotherapy tries to shut them down. By uncovering how this mitochondrial transfer happens, we hope to find ways to block it, making chemotherapy more effective and improving treatment outcomes for patients,” said Ebube.
Ebube went on to explain why his research has such a global impact: “I was thrilled to be invited to present my research at such a prestigious global conference. It was an unforgettable experience.
“ASH attracts top researchers, clinicians, and industry leaders from around the world, showcasing the most cutting-edge advancements in blood-related diseases, including blood cancers.
“My research on how macrophages transfer mitochondria to cancer cells - giving them the ability to resist chemotherapy - addresses a crucial challenge in cancer treatment. The novelty and potential impact of this work led to my selection for both a poster walk and a poster presentation, allowing me to share my findings with some of the brightest minds in the field.
“Standing in front of leading researchers and clinicians, sharing our work on how macrophages transfer mitochondria to cancer cells, was both exhilarating and humbling. Seeing the genuine curiosity and excitement from the audience reinforced how significant this research could be in the fight against chemotherapy resistance.
“The level of engagement was beyond what I expected. Scientists and physicians from around the world asked insightful questions, sparking discussions that challenged me to think deeper about the implications of our findings. The experience highlighted the collaborative nature of science - how sharing knowledge pushes the field forward.
“What made this opportunity so important was not just the chance to present my research, but to connect with experts who are equally passionate about understanding and targeting cancer’s survival mechanisms. The feedback I received has already influenced my next steps, and I left ASH feeling even more motivated to explore how we can disrupt this mitochondrial transfer and make cancer therapies more effective.”
Dr Williams said he was incredibly proud of Ebube’s achievements and they were “blown away” by the reception his presentation and the research that’s going on in his cancer labs received during the conference.
“It was great to see that Ebube got so much attention on this prestigious global stage, from clinicians and scientists dedicated to conquering blood diseases. The mitochondrial transfer field has exploded recently, and holds much promise in tackling cancer therapy resistance, and thus is an exciting research area for my group to work on,” added Dr Williams.
The Dr Williams Blood Cancer Research Group is part of the University’s School of Health and Life Sciences’ Research Centre for Health (ReaCH). The long-term aim of the Group is to enhance clinical outcomes in blood cancer patients through the development of new, safe and effective targeted therapies.