Dr Michael Cross

Personal Statement

I graduated from the University of Surrey in 1991 with a degree in Medical Biochemistry, which also included an Industrial year at ICI Pharmaceuticals (AstraZeneca). I completed my PhD at the University of Glasgow and University of Birmingham (1991-1995) in the area of growth factor stimulated phospholipase activation. I undertook postdoctoral studies at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research in Uppsala, Sweden and Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, in the area of vascular biology/angiogenesis with a particular focus on FGF and VEGF signalling in human endothelial cells.
In 2004, I started as a group leader at the newly established North West Cancer Research (NWCR) Institute, University of Bangor in North Wales and developed a research group in the area of VEGF signalling in endothelial cells. In 2007, I moved to take up a lectureship in the area of cancer biology and cardiovascular science at the Dept of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Liverpool.

My research focus on the role of endothelial cells in drug-induced cardiovascular toxicity and drug-induced liver injury (DILI). My research group is also studying the role of ERK5 in endothelial cell function and tumour angiogenesis. My research is funded by North West Cancer Research (NWCR), Medical Research Council (MRC) and Skin Cancer Research Fund (SCaRF).