Dr Jason Webber

Biography

Career overview

• 2014 - present: Prostate Cancer UK Research Fellow, Division of Cancer & Genetics, Cardiff University
• July 2014: Visiting Post-Doctoral Researcher, CIC bioGUNE, Bilbao, Spain
• 2008 - 2014: Research Associate, Division of Cancer & Genetics, Cardiff University

Education & qualifications

• 2009: Ph.D. Cell Biology; Institute of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University
• 2005: B.Sc. Biochemistry with Medical Biochemistry; School of Biosciences, Cardiff University

Honours and awards

• Prostate Cancer UK Career Development Fellowship (~£680k) - funded from Nov 2014 to Oct 2019
• Society for Endocrinology 2013 – Best Poster Presnetation.
• Cancer Research Wales Travel Grant (£500) – to attend ISEV 2013 Meeting, Boston, USA.
• Prostate Action Travel Grant (£700) – to attend ISEV 2012 Meeting, Gothenburg, Sweden.
• Velindre NHS Trust R & D Conference 2010 – Best Oral Presentation.
• Velindre NHS Trust R & D Conference 2009 – Best Newcomer.
• MR2-IRG Research Day, Cardiff University 2008 – Best Oral Presentation.
• Postgraduate Research Day, Cardiff University 2007 – Best Oral Presentation.

Professional memberships

• Founding member of the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (2011 – present)
• Member of the European Academy for Tumour Immunology (2016 – present)
• Member of the UK Extracellular Vesicle Forum (2014 – present)
• Member of the Cardiff Institute of Tissue Engineering & Repair (2006 – present)

Speaking engagements

Invited seminars

• July 2016: Extracellular Vesices - Biology & Therapeutic Potential, Select Bio, Cambridge, UK
• June 2014: Research Seminar Series, CIC bioGUNE, Bilbao, Spain
• June 2012: Prostate Action - The Forum (10th Biennial Prostate Cancer Forum), Rotterdam, Netherlands
• Feb 2012: IRDB / Oncology Spring Seminar Series, Imperial College London, UK
• April 2011: Prostate Action - Blue Skies Research Meeting, Downing College, Cambridge, UK

Committees and reviewing

• 2010 - present: Member of the Cardiff University Genetic Modification and Biological Agents Safety Committee
• 2010 - present: Departmental Biological Safety Officer

Publications

• Date
• Type
• Selected

Teaching

College of Biomedical & Life Sciences

• Induction Course for GMO Workers - Microbiology Saftey

Undergraduate Teaching

• Intercalated & BSc Medical Pharamcology: Research supervisor to lab-based projects.
• Medic SSC Year 1: Tutorials and literature review

Postgraduate Teaching

PhD Supervisor:

• Miss Francesca Polveraccio [co-supervisors: Prof. A. Clayton & Prof. C. Emanuelli (University of Bristol)]
• Miss Sara Veiga [co-supervisor: Prof. A. Clayton]

Recently Completed PhD Candidates:

• Dr Vincent Yeung [Primary supervisor: Prof. A. Clayton]

Research Overview

As a member of the Exosome Biology Research Group, my research focuses on the role of cancer cell-derived exosomes in regulating mechanisms associated with tumour growth and progression. Exosomes are nanometre-sized vesicles that originate from the late endosomal pathway, and are therefore distinct from other extracellular vesicles. Not only have exosomes been shown to play an important role in cell-to-cell communication, but there is growing interest in the use of exosomes as disease biomarkers.

My specific research focuses on the role of prostate cancer exosomes in driving stromal cell differentiation. In patients with prostate cancer the prostatic stroma becomes aberrantly altered with an increased presence of cells with a myofibroblast-like phenotype. These cells are absent from normal tissues but are often associated with a fibrotic response whereby precursor cells, such as fibroblasts, undergo differentiation to become myofibroblastic. In various cancers, including prostate, the presence of myofibroblasts is associated with treatment resistant cancers and aggressive disease.

Classically myofibroblastic differentiation has been shown to occur in response to Transforming Growth Factor (TGF) beta1. We have demonstrated that exosomes can also drive differentiation in a TGFbeta1-dependent manner. The resulting myofibroblast-like phenotype is, however, distinct from that generated in response to soluble TGFbeta1. It is only through exosome-induced differentiation that we can make normal prostatic stromal cells mimic those found in disease. This difference in response is likely due to heparan sulphate proteoglycans (HSPGs) which play a key role in tethering TGFbeta1 to the exosome surface and therefore delivery to the target cell.

Funded by a Prostate Cancer UK Career Development Fellowship (2014 - 2019) I am currently investigating the role of HSPGs in exosome-driven stromal cell differentiation. In addition, I aim to determine whether exosomal-HSPGs can be used to distinguish patients with aggressive prostate cancer, therefore requiring treatment, from patients with indolent disease, for whom treatment would offer no benefit.

Specific Research Areas

• Mechanisms regulating exosome secretion
• Exosome-induced stromal cell differentiation.
• The role of heparan sulphate proteoglycans in regulating exosome function.
• Exosomes as biomarkers for prostate cancer.

Group Members

• Dr Alexandra Shephard (Post-doctoral Research Assistant)
• Miss Francesca Polveraccio (PhD Student; Co-supervised by Prof. A Clayton & Prof. C. Emanuelli)
• Miss Sara Veiga (PhD Student; Co-supervised by Prof. A. Clayton)

Alumni:

• Dr Vincent Yeung (Post-doctoral Research Assistant / PhD Student)

Grants held in last 5 years

• Tuberous Sclerosis Association (PhD Studentship). Characterising the role of exosomes in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. £98K; 2018 - 2021 (Supervisors: Dr E Dunlop and Dr J Webber (Joint-PIs) and Dr A Tee (Co-I)).
• Wales Cancer Research Centre - ASTRA. NeoSTEM trial. Investigating  stem cell gene expression panel to predict chemotherapy response in the neoadjuvant setting in Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). £13K; 2018 - 2020. (PI: Dr T Robinson; Co-Is: Dr J Webber, Prof R Butler, Prof M Smalley).
• MRC GW4 BioMed DTP (PhD Studentship). Stem cell exosomes: a system for initiating repair and regenertion in diverse disease settings. £100K; 2017 - 2020 (Supervisors: Dr J Webber (PI), Prof A Clayton (Co-I) and Prof C Emanuelli (Co-I; University of Bristol)).
• Cancer Research Wales (PhD Studentship). The role of heparan sulphate proteoglycans in exosome-mediated growth factor delivery & prostate tumour growth. £98K; 2017 - 2020 (Supervisors: Dr J Webber (PI) & Prof Aled Clayton (Co-I)).
• Welsh Crucible. Guided by the Sun: New cross-disciplinary methods for modelling and analysis of tumour growth. £8.7K; 2017 (Co-PIs: Dr J Webber & Dr E Dunlop; Co-Is: Dr J Giansiracusa, Dr H Morgan & Prof R Errington).
• Prostate Cancer UK - Career Development Fellowship. Exosomal heparan sulphate proteoglycans drive disease progression in patients with prostate cancer. £680K; 2014 - 2019 (PI: Dr J Webber).
• Life Sciences Research Netwrok Wales & Cardiff University (PhD Studentship). Role of exosomes in the progression of prostate cancer. £80K; 2014 - 2017 (Supervisors: Dr A Clayton (PI) & Dr J Webber (Co-I)).
• Prostate Cancer UK. Proteomics of human prostate cancer stroma. £44.5K; 2012 - 2014 (PI: Dr A Clayton; Co-Is: Dr J Webber & Dr I Brewis).

Supervision

Past projects