Projects per year
Personal profile
Interests
My interests are in translational research in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with the aim of improving diagnosis, prognosis and prediction of therapeutic responses through the identification of novel and repurposed therapies
Research Statement
The molecular and cytogenetic abnormalities in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) and Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) are increasingly well defined and these are being implicated in stratification for diagnosis and prognosis.
We have a series of studies being undertaken to identify repurposed therapies to target different sub-groups of adult and paediatric AML; the MuSICAL and the CaUSAL are funded by Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG)/Little Princess Trust.
Alongside these, are studies introducing clinically relevant mutations using the CRISPR-Cas mechanism to produce isogenic cell lines to further understand the molecular disruption caused by the mutation. Our recent direction of research has involved investigating the role of chromatin modeling or DNA repair in sub-cohorts of MDS and AML supported with grants from the LLNI, Leuka and MDS UK
Several studies are being undertaken in collaboration with previous members of the EU funded COST Action on translating genomic and epigenetic studies of MDS and AML (EuGESMA) with partners in 22 countries including Spain, Denmark, Italy, Germany, Serbia and Finland.
Current funding is from the Leukaemia & Lymphoma NI (LLNI), Leuka, Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG)/Little Princess Trust, MDS UK and the Department of Education and Learning (DEL) and with recent funding from Cancer Research UK, Myeloma UK, Bloodwise, Queen's University Belfast, Cancer Research UK, and the R&D Division of the NI HSC. The laboratory is an associated member of the IMI2 funded HARMONY project and a full partner in a recently (2019) awarded Erasmus Plus Knowledge Exchange Network (Nemhesys)
Teaching
Acting Deputy Director: Centre for Biomedical Science Education (2017-2020)
Associate Director for Undergraduate Teaching (CCRCB)
Coordinator for the CCRCB Summer School Programme (2015-2020)
Module coordinator for Molecular Markers of Disease (BMS3104) (2017-2020)
Module coordinator for Pathobiology (BMS2023) and Cellular & Molecular Haematology (BMS3009) (2007-2017
Teaching contributions to BMS2023, BMS 2106, BMS3009, BMS3104
Module coordinator for SCM81821 and SCM7046 within both the MSc in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics and the MSc in Molecular Pathology
Achievements
Chair of the Northern Ireland council of the Royal College of Pathologists (2016-2021)
Chair of Scholl Academic Centre, Steering Group (2018-date)
Member of the Manx Health and Bioscience Advisory Board (2017-2019)
REF Advisor for the School of Health Sciences, Liverpool Hope University (2016-2018)
Member of the CCLG Research Advisory Group (RAG) (2021-date)
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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R2943CNR: Deciphering the role of USP7 and EED in drug resistant Non-Hodgkin lymphomas: a novel approach to patient treatment.
Atlasi, Y. (PI) & Mills, K. (CoI)
01/11/2022 → …
Project: Research
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R2739CNR: Leukaemia & Lymphoma via QUB Foundation - Research Fellow & Technician
Lappin, K. (PI) & Mills, K. (CoI)
03/08/2020 → …
Project: Research
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R6319CNR: EC FP7 - COST-GASG-BM0801-00953 (General Action Support Grant)
Mills, K. (PI)
01/08/2009 → …
Project: Research
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Validation of Next Generation Sequencing Technologies in Comparison to Current Diagnostic Gold Standards for BRAF, EGFR and KRAS Mutational Analysis
McCourt, C. M., McArt, D. G., Mills, K., Catherwood, M. A., Maxwell, P., Waugh, D. J., Hamilton, P., O'Sullivan, J. M. & Salto-Tellez, M., 26 Jul 2013, In: PLoS ONE. 8, 7, 10 p., e69604.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile101 Citations (Scopus)402 Downloads (Pure) -
Oncogenic roles of PRL-3 in FLT3-ITD induced acute myeloid leukaemia
Park, J. E., Yuen, H. F., Zhou, J. B., Al-Aidaroos, A. Q. O., Guo, K., Valk, P. J., Zhang, S. D., Chng, W. J., Hong, C. W., Mills, K. & Zeng, Q., 03 Sept 2013, In: EMBO Molecular Medicine. 5, 9, p. 1351-1366Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile46 Citations (Scopus)343 Downloads (Pure) -
Genome-wide profiling of methylation identifies novel targets with aberrant hyper-methylation and reduced expression in low-risk myelodysplastic syndromes
Del Rey, B. M., O'Hagan, K., Dellett, M., Aibar, S., Colyer, H. A. A., Alonso, M. E., Díez-Campelo, M., Armstrong, R. N., Sharpe, D. J., Gutiérrez, N. C., García, J. L., De Las Rivas, J., Mills, K. I. & Hernández-Rivas, J. M., 01 Mar 2013, In: Leukemia. 27, 3, p. 610-618Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile30 Citations (Scopus)472 Downloads (Pure) -
Molecular similarity between myelodysplastic form of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts
Gelsi-Boyer, V., Cervera, N., Bertucci, F., Brecqueville, M., Finetti, P., Murati, A., Arnoulet, C., Mozziconacci, M. J., Mills, K. I., Cross, N. C. P., Vey, N. & Birnbaum, D., 01 Apr 2013, In: HAEMATOLOGICA. 98, 4, p. 576-583Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile8 Citations (Scopus)377 Downloads (Pure) -
High and low, but not intermediate, PRAME expression levels are poor prognostic markers in myelodysplastic syndrome at disease presentation
Liberante, F. G., Pellagatti, A., Boncheva, V., Bowen, D. T., Mills, K. I., Boultwood, J. & Guinn, B.-A., 02 Jul 2013, In: British Journal of Haematology. 162, 2, p. 282-285Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
13 Citations (Scopus)
Prizes
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Chair of the NI Regional Council of the Royal College of Pathologists
Mills, K. (Recipient), 14 Nov 2016
Prize: Election to learned society
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Co-Lead, Building Clinical Capacity Programme, All-Ireland Cancer Consortium
Mills, K. (Recipient), Apr 2012
Prize: Appointment
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Honorary Fellow - University College Man
Mills, K. (Recipient), 07 Oct 2022
Prize: National/international honour
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Activities
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British Lymphoma Pathology Group
Mills, K. (Invited speaker)
28 Jun 2013Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
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NCRI Annual Leukaemia Trials Review Meeting
Mills, K. (Participant)
24 Jun 2013Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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NILRF AGM and Annual Scientific Report
Mills, K. (Contributor)
19 Jun 2013Activity: Consultancy types › Work on advisory panels for social community and cultural engagement
Press/Media
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Researchers at Queen’s University Belfast receive the 1st scientific research grant awarded by MDS UK
Mills, K., Savage, K. & Lappin, K.
25/11/2019
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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Queen’s University Belfast awarded research grant to improve bone marrow cancer treatment
Mills, K., Savage, K. & Lappin, K.
25/11/2019
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Medical Colleges NI
25/08/2017 → 25/08/2017
1 item of Media coverage, 1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment