LJ Russell Lab

Senior Lecturer in Childhood Cancer and Haematology at @UniofNewcastle @NU_Cancer, UK
Haemato-oncology, genomics, epigenomics, structural variants

[LJ Russell Lab @LJRussell_Lab]

Thanks to Martin Newham for visiting the Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre and capturing the LEGEND team at work in the lab — including our data scientists!
Looking forward to sharing some of the photos on social media soon #ChildhoodCancerResearch #DataScience

[LJ Russell Lab @LJRussell_Lab]

This competitively funded PhD opportunity has an application deadline of 20th May 🔬🧬

[LJ Russell Lab @LJRussell_Lab]

🧬 Fighting Paediatric Leukaemia with Epigenetics: 4-Year PhD Opportunity!​ ​

Want to push boundaries in cancer research using cutting-edge epigenomic technology?​ ​

We are seeking a dedicated PhD student to join the LEGEND group.​

Full details at​ https://t.co/1xk7I6xHf3

[Remembering Ruby @KindlyLoudly]

An amazing milestone!

Add in the gift aid & that's a whopping £333k raised in Ruby's memory for @cclguk.

Funding 5 vital research projects.

2/3 of the way to our total.

Thank you to everyone who's fundraiser/donated/cheered us on ❤️🙏😍

#teenagecancer

[LJ Russell Lab @LJRussell_Lab]

Last week was an exciting one for the LEGEND Group! We attended @NUBiosciences NUBI Live, where Lisa and Phoebe gave talks, and Ahmed and Leti presented posters. Nick also presented in the @Nu_Cancer PMGI Symposium. Excellent science with plenty of engaging discussions!

[LJ Russell Lab @LJRussell_Lab]

Very proud that LEGEND group technician, Camille Drai, won two prestigious Technican Awards.

[Newcastle University Centre for Cancer @NU_Cancer]

Two awards, one incredible achievement!

Huge congratulations to NU Cancer’s Camille Drai on winning Outstanding Technician of the Year and Early Career Achievement at the Newcastle University Technician Awards 👏

#NUCancer #NewcastleUniversity #TechnicianAwards

[LJ Russell Lab @LJRussell_Lab]

Had a blast attending an afterwork quiz organised by @nubiosciences PGR community fundraising for Children Cancer North. Third prize proved we are not only good at science and some of us got lucky at the raffle. Thank you for organising this, looking forward to the next event!

[LJ Russell Lab @LJRussell_Lab]

Molly’s story is a powerful reminder of why we are committed to fighting leukaemia. Every donation supports better treatment development. https://t.co/nntK6k9Z5Q​ Not only does research continue to grow, but our @bloodcancer_uk project plant grows alongside it, a symbol of hope.

[LJ Russell Lab @LJRussell_Lab]

Shout out this #InternationalMensDay to Ahmed Alsayadi (@AAsayadi) and Nick Brittain — brilliant cancer researchers and all-round great humans. Your skill, drive, and good vibes make the LEGEND team what it is 💙

[LJ Russell Lab @LJRussell_Lab]

We’re excited to welcome a talented new postdoctoral researcher, Monika Gonka, to the LEGEND group! She’ll be leading data-driven projects and supporting the team as a bioinformatics research assistant. Welcome aboard, Monika!

[LJ Russell Lab @LJRussell_Lab]

Great Job Ahmed. Hope you both had a productive day and enjoyed hearing about research from other north east PGR students.

[Ahmed Alsayadi @AAsayadi]

Had a great time networking at #NEPG2025 with my PhD colleague Phoebe Snow!
Proud to represent our LEGEND (Leukaemia EpiGenomic & ENhancer Dysregulation) group led by Dr Lisa Russell. @LJRussell_Lab

Loved sharing my poster and connecting with passionate researchers!
#phdlife

[LJ Russell Lab @LJRussell_Lab]

I was welcomed to the lab meeting yesterday by this spooky bunch 🤪. Always up for a giggle and certainly made my day 😆

[LJ Russell Lab @LJRussell_Lab]

Was privileged to be asked to speak at this years Molecular Haemopoiesis Conference #molhaem2025 and share the findings of how super-enhancers contribute to leukaemia development.

[Alex Tonks @alex_tonks]

@LJRussell_Lab giving a fantastic talk at #molhaem2025 looking at JAK-STAT and RNA metabolism

[LJ Russell Lab @LJRussell_Lab]

@alex_tonks Thanks @alex_tonks.

[LJ Russell Lab @LJRussell_Lab]

Getting this right enhances our ability to study specific regions of the genome, helping us to gain further insights into leukaemia biology and ultimately discover novel ways it may be targeted.

[LJ Russell Lab @LJRussell_Lab]

Viruses effectively deliver gene-editing proteins into leukaemia cells. Envelope proteins ‘coat’ the virus, and the best envelope choice can vary between different leukaemias. We use fluorescence to decide which envelope will allow the best delivery of the gene-editing proteins.

[LJ Russell Lab @LJRussell_Lab]

Together with Professor Anthony Moorman, we will lead the two research projects that will explore the biology of ALL and how we can use that information to find the most effective treatments and reduce the challenging long-term side effects of chemotherapy.

[LJ Russell Lab @LJRussell_Lab]

We’re proud to share the inspiring story of Dr. Dan Mattison — diagnosed with leukaemia at age 14, and now a Foundation Year 2 doctor. Dan and his family are welcoming a £4.1 million investment from Cancer Research UK (CRUK). Read more here: https://t.co/5SMvIPpX8C

[LJ Russell Lab @LJRussell_Lab]

Two research projects at Newcastle University are celebrating £4.1million of investment from Cancer Research UK to explore how children with ALL, the same cancer Dan had, can be diagnosed and treated more effectively to improve survival rates.

[LJ Russell Lab @LJRussell_Lab]

Last week on #WorldCancerResearchDay the whole lab and other colleagues from @NU_Cancer turned into bakers to help fundraising for @CR_UK, a charity close to us for their commitment to fund groundbreaking projects in cancer research. Lovely seeing the public so engaged! 🧁🧬