Our team
We are a vibrant community of researchers, clinicians, and students from across Queen Mary Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry and Barts Health NHS Trust. Our lab groups are based at the Barts Cancer Institute, the Blizard Institute at Whitechapel and the William Harvey Institute at Charterhouse Square. We host regular joint lab meetings fostering a collaborative and supportive environment for early-career scientists in advancing their careers.
Our core team is led by Professor William Alazawi, Professor Dunja Aksentijevic, Dr Katiuscia Bianchi, Professor Li Chan, and Professor Sian Henson. Zafira Salam is our programme manager.
Professor William Alazawi
Co-Lead Barts Metabolism Network, Professor of Hepatology, Director of Research at the Blizard Institute
Dr Dunja Aksentijevic
Co-Lead Barts Metabolism Network, Reader in Cardiovascular Physiology and Metabolism, Wellcome Trust Career Re-Entry Fellow, Director of Education at William Harvey Research Institute
Dr Katiuscia Bianchi
Co-Lead Barts Metabolism Network, Reader in Cell Biology, Group Leader at the Barts Cancer Institute
Professor Li Chan
Co-Lead Barts Metabolism Network, Professor of Molecular Endocrinology and Metabolism, Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Endocrinology
Professor Sian Henson
Co-Lead Barts Metabolism Network, Professor of Immunology
Professor Will Alazawi
Co-Lead Barts Metabolism Network, Professor of Hepatology, Director of Research at the Blizard Institute. His research within the network focuses on Steatotic Liver Disease.
Dr Dunja Aksentijevic
Co-Lead Barts Metabolism Network, Reader in Cardiovascular Physiology and Metabolism, Wellcome Trust Career Re-Entry Fellow, Director of Education at William Harvey Research Institute. Her research within the network focuses on metabolic mechanisms and dysfunction in diseases.
Dr Katiuscia Bianchi
Co-Lead Barts Metabolism Network, Reader in Cell Biology, Group Leader at the Barts Cancer Institute. Her research within the network focuses on cellular metabolism in the increased risk of breast cancer in obesity.
Professor Li Chan
Co-Lead Barts Metabolism Network, Professor of Molecular Endocrinology and Metabolism, Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Endocrinology. Her research within the network focuses on how hormones and genes affect weight in children.
Professor Sian Henson
Co-Lead Barts Metabolism Network, Professor of Immunology. Her research within the network focuses on metabolic changes to T cells in Type 2 Diabetes.