Dr Christopher Staples
Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences (Cancer Biology)
Qualifications
- PhD: Regulation of MAP kinase phosphatases
 University of Dundee, 2006–2010
Teaching and Supervision
Teaching Credits
MSE-3016 Pathophysiology (10 credits) - Module Organiser
MSE-2025 Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (10 credits)Â
MSE-3013 Third Year Research ProjectÂ
MSE-4025 Dissertation
Teaching and Supervision Roles
Undergraduate project/dissertation supervision. Supervision of PhD, MSc and MRes students.
Other roles
College representative on Research Concordat Committee
External and internal viva voce examiner
Teaching and Scholarship Awards
PGCertHE Stage 1 (2017)
PGCertHE Stage 2 (2018)
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA)
Research Interests
Work in the Staples laboratory focuses largely on the characterisation of novel genome stability factors. Genome instability and DNA damage are central pathogenic mechanisms involved in cancer predisposition, premature ageing and neurodegeneration. Indeed, some cancer therapies target cancer-specific defects in DNA repair or replication fork protection mechanisms, and as such a complete understanding of such mechanisms is a major asset in the fight against cancer.
We have identified several novel DNA repair and replication fork protection factors, and our aim is to gain mechanistic insight into the function of these largely unstudied proteins with the ultimate goal of using this knowledge to design novel cancer therapies and/or predict therapeutic response.
Postgraduate Project Opportunities
Publications
2024
- Published
 Bennett, L. G. & Staples, C. J., 13 Feb 2024, In: Methods in cell biology. 182, p. 285-298 14 p.
 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
 Bennett, L., Vernon, E., Thanendran, V., Jones, C., Gamble, A. & Staples, C., 12 Aug 2024, In: Nucleic Acids Research. 52, 14
 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2023
- Published
 Crozier, L., Foy, R., adib, R., Kar, A., Holt, J., Pareri, A., Valverde, J., Riviera, R., Weston, W., Wilson, R., Regnault, C., Whitfield, P., Badonyi, M., Bennett, L., Vernon, E., Gamble, A., Marsh, J., Staples, C., Saurin, A. & Barr, A. & 1 others, Ly, T., 16 Nov 2023, In: Molecular Cell. 83, 22, p. 4062-4077 15 p.
 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
 Elgar, C. E., Yusoh, N. A., Tiley, P. R., Kolozsvári, N., Bennett, L., Gamble, A., Péan, E. V., Davies, M. L., Staples, C., Ahmad, H. & Gill, M. R., 18 Jan 2023, In: Journal of the American Chemical Society. 145, 2, p. 1236-1246 11 p.
 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2020
- Published
 Bennett, L., Wilkie, A., Antonopoulou, E., Ceppi, I., Sanchez, A., Vernon, E., Gamble, A., Myers, K. N., Collis, S. J., Cejka, P. & Staples, C., 10 Jul 2020, In: Science Advances. 6, 28, 10 p., eaba5974.
 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2017
- Published
 Williams, D. T. & Staples, C., 25 Aug 2017, Personalised Medicine. El-Khamisy, S. (ed.). Springer, Vol. 1007. p. 1-16 16 p. (Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology).
 Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
2016
- Published
 Barone, G., Staples, C. J., Ganesh, A., Patterson, K. W., Bryne, D. P., Myers, K. N., Patil, A. A., Eyers, C. E., Maslen, S., Skehel, J. M., Eyers, P. A. & Collis, S. J., 14 Oct 2016, In: Nucleic Acids Research. 44, 18, p. 8772-8785 14 p.
 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
 Staples, C. J., Barone, G., Myers, K. N., Ganesh, A., Gibbs-Seymour, I., Patil, A. A., Beveridge, R. D., Daye, C., Beniston, R., Maslen, S., Ahel, I., Skehel, J. M. & Collis, S. J., 6 Sept 2016, In: Cell. 16, 10, p. 2565-75 11 p.
 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
 Myers, K. N., Barone, G., Ganesh, A., Staples, C. J., Howard, A. E., Beveridge, R. D., Maslen, S., Skehel, J. M. & Collis, S. J., 14 Oct 2016, In: Scientific Reports. 6, p. 35548
 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2014
- Published
 Staples, C. J., Myers, K. N., Beveridge, R. D., Patil, A. A., Howard, A. E., Barone, G., Lee, A. J., Swanton, C., Howell, M., Maslen, S., Skehel, J. M., Boutlon, S. J. & Collis, S. J., 1 Jul 2014, In: Journal of Cell Science. 127, p. 2910-2919
 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
 Beveridge, R. D., Staples, C. J., Patil, A. A., Myers, K. N., Maslen, S., Skehel, J. M., Boulton, S. J. & Collis, S. J., 29 Oct 2014, In: Cell Cycle. 13, 21, p. 3450-3459
 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2011
- Published
 Dickinson, R. J., Delavaine, L., Cejudo-MarÃn, R., Stewart, G., Staples, C. J., Didmon, M. P., Trinidad, A. G., Alonso, A., Pulido, R. & Keyse, S. M., 4 Nov 2011, In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. 286, 44, p. 38018-26 9 p.
 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2010
- Published
 Staples, C. J., Owens, D. M., Maier, J. V., Cato, A. C. B. & Keyse, S. M., 20 Aug 2010, In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. 285, 34, p. 25928-40 13 p.
 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2009
- Published
 Kucharska, A., Rushworth, L. K., Staples, C., Morrice, N. A. & Keyse, S. M., Dec 2009, In: Cellular Signalling. 21, 12, p. 1794-805 12 p.
 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2008
- Published
 Ekerot, M., Stavridis, M. P., Delavaine, L., Mitchell, M. P., Staples, C., Owens, D. M., Keenan, I. D., Dickinson, R. J., Storey, K. G. & Keyse, S. M., 1 Jun 2008, In: Biochemical Journal. 412, 2, p. 287-98 12 p.
 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2007
- Published
 Graham, D. A., Staples, C., Wilson, C. J., Jewhurst, H., Cherry, K., Gordon, A. & Rowley, H. M., Sept 2007, In: Journal of Fish Biology. 30, 9, p. 533-43 11 p.
 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Activities
2022
- There is an urgent requirement to identify specific, precision medicine drug targets that selectively kill PDACs with mutations in BRCA2 and other DNA repair factors, or which sensitise them further to existing treatments. We are therefore applying for funding to develop CRISPR-Cas9 dropout screening at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ â€“a powerful technique for identifying novel precision medicine drug targets in cancer cells. While our initial focus is on PDAC, once in place this methodology can be applied to drive the discovery of drug targets for a wide array of human diseases. - Funding awarded through the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Innovation and Impact Award (Research Wales Innovation Funding). Value = £49,466 - 1 Apr 2022 – 31 Mar 2023 Activity: Other (Contributor)
2021
- 20 Jun 2021 Activity: Types of External academic engagement - Contribution to the work of national or international committees and working groups (Contributor)
- Invited talk at the 26th UK Cilia Network Symposium - 17 May 2021 Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)
- Member of scientific panel - 9 May 2021 → Activity: Types of External academic engagement - Contribution to the work of national or international committees and working groups (Contributor)
- 9 May 2021 Activity: Types of External academic engagement - Contribution to the work of national or international committees and working groups (Contributor)
2020
- Peer reviewer - 7 Nov 2020 Activity: Publication peer-review (Editorial board member)
- Peer-reviewer for UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships - 25 Oct 2020 Activity: Types of External academic engagement - Contribution to the work of national or international committees and working groups (Contributor)
- Peer review - 11 Sep 2020 Activity: Publication peer-review (Editorial board member)
- Reviewed a BBSRC Responsive Mode Application - 31 Aug 2020 Activity: Types of External academic engagement - Contribution to the work of national or international committees and working groups (Contributor)
- 21 Apr 2020 Activity: Examination (Examiner)
- 2 Apr 2020 Activity: Examination (Examiner)
- Provided peer review for a BBSRC project grant application - 4 Mar 2020 Activity: Types of External academic engagement - Contribution to the work of national or international committees and working groups (Contributor)
- Acted as peer reviewer - 7 Jan 2020 Activity: Publication peer-review (Editorial board member)
2019
- Supervised by Nikki Copeland - 13 Jun 2019 Activity: Examination (Examiner)
- External examiner - 4 Jun 2019 Activity: Examination (Examiner)
- 15 min talk at international conference - 2019 Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)
2018
- Invited speaker to research seminar series - 18 Mar 2018 Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)
- 29 Jan 2018 Activity: Examination (Examiner)
2017
- 9 Nov 2017 Activity: Examination (Examiner)
- Invited speaker to research seminar series - 11 May 2017 Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)
Projects
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01/07/2024 – 15/07/2027 (Active) 
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03/06/2024 – 30/06/2026 (Active) 
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01/01/2024 – 31/03/2028 (Active) 
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01/12/2023 – 15/12/2026 (Active) 
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01/10/2023 – 30/11/2026 (Active) 
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01/04/2023 – 15/04/2025 (Finished) 
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01/10/2022 – 31/12/2025 (Active) 
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01/10/2022 – 31/03/2024 (Finished) 
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01/07/2022 – 31/03/2024 (Finished) 
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01/05/2021 – 31/08/2021 (Finished) 
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01/01/2021 – 31/03/2024 (Finished) 
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01/02/2020 – 29/02/2024 (Finished) 
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01/12/2019 – 31/12/2023 (Finished) 
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01/07/2019 – 01/08/2022 (Finished) 
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01/06/2019 – 01/08/2019 (Finished) 
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01/01/2019 – 30/06/2022 (Finished) 
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01/05/2018 – 31/07/2023 (Finished) 
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01/11/2016 – 31/08/2020 (Finished) 
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01/10/2016 – 31/07/2018 (Finished) 
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01/10/2016 – 19/08/2023 (Finished)