University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Professor Ainhoa Mielgo is a Professor of Cancer Biology and Research Team Leader at the University of Liverpool. She earned her PhD in Cancer Biology and Immunology from the University of Basel and has held academic positions in both Europe and the United States, including at the Moores Cancer Center, UCSD. Her research focuses on the tumor microenvironment, particularly the roles of macrophages and fibroblasts in cancer progression, immune evasion, and therapy resistance. She has published extensively in high-impact journals and leads several funded research projects aimed at improving cancer treatment outcomes.
Author Profile
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Professional Experience 💼
Currently, Professor Mielgo is a Professor in Cancer Biology and a Research Team Leader at the University of Liverpool, a position she has held since 2023. Her academic trajectory at Liverpool includes roles as Reader (2021–2023), Senior Lecturer (2016–2021), and Research Team Leader and Wellcome Trust Fellow (2013–2020). Prior to her work in the UK, she served as Junior Faculty at the Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego (2010–2012), and as a post-doctoral research fellow there from 2006 to 2010. Her post-doctoral career began at the University of Basel in 2005.
Technical Skills 🛠️
Professor Mielgo possesses deep expertise in cancer biology, tumor immunology, and the tumor microenvironment. She has a proven track record in leading interdisciplinary research teams, securing high-level funding, and publishing impactful studies. Her skills include advanced molecular and cellular biology techniques, in vivo cancer models, and translational cancer research.
Teaching Experience👨🏫
Currently, Professor Mielgo is a Professor in Cancer Biology and a Research Team Leader at the University of Liverpool, a position she has held since 2023. Her academic trajectory at Liverpool includes roles as Reader (2021–2023), Senior Lecturer (2016–2021), and Research Team Leader and Wellcome Trust Fellow (2013–2020). Prior to her work in the UK, she served as Junior Faculty at the Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego (2010–2012), and as a post-doctoral research fellow there from 2006 to 2010. Her post-doctoral career began at the University of Basel in 2005.
Awards & Honors 🏅
Professor Mielgo has secured significant competitive research funding. As lead principal investigator, her current support includes a CRUK Clinical Trial Award, Clatterbridge Research Funds, and multiple grants and studentships from North West Cancer Research totaling over £570,000 since 2022. Her prior awards include a prestigious Wellcome Trust Research Fellowship worth £1.05 million and additional PhD studentships and grants from North West Cancer Research.
Research Interests 🔍
Her research centers on understanding the complex interplay between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment, with a particular focus on pancreatic and breast cancers. She investigates mechanisms of chemoresistance, immune evasion, and metastasis, especially the role of macrophages, fibroblasts, and stromal factors in tumor progression. Her recent studies explore how targeting the immune-stromal crosstalk can improve responses to cancer therapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy.
Publications Top Notes: 📝
Title: Neoadjuvant treatment versus upfront surgery in borderline resectable and resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Meta-Analysis
Authors: L.D. Dickerson, J.A. Gittens, C. Brunning, C.M. Halloran, P. Ghaneh
Year: Not specified
Journal: Not specified
Title: Macrophages suppress CD8+ T cell cytotoxic function in triple negative breast cancer via VISTA
Authors: M. Abudula, Y. Astuti, M.L. Raymant, M.C. Schmid, A. Mielgo
Year: 2025
Journal: British Journal of Cancer
Title: Macrophage-fibroblast JAK/STAT dependent crosstalk promotes liver metastatic outgrowth in pancreatic cancer
Authors: M.L. Raymant, Y. Astuti, L. Álvaro-Espinosa, A. Mielgo, M.C. Schmid
Year: 2024
Journal: Nature Communications
Title: Expression of versican isoforms V0/V1 by pancreatic cancer associated fibroblasts increases fibroblast proliferation
Authors: S. Elhashani, M.A. Glenn, M.L. Raymant, M.C. Schmid, A. Mielgo
Year: 2024
Journal: Pancreatology