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Staff Profile

Dr Debbie Hicks

Senior Lecturer in Childhood Cancer

Background

Roles and Responsibilities


Principal Investigator, Paediatric Brain Tumour Group, NU Centre for Cancer

NU Centre for Cancer Executive Board member.


Chair, Quality of Survival Group; International Society of Paediatric Oncology (Brain Tumour Group)


Director of Postgraduate Research, Translational and Clinical Research Institute

Translational and Clinical Research Institute Executive Board member


Editorial Board of Children (Pediatric Hematology & Oncology Section)


Qualifications

PhD (molecular genetics) 2009, Â鶹´«Ã½

BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences (molecular biology), 2003, University of Edinburgh


Previous positions

2022-2024: Lecturer in Childhood Cancer

2019-2022: Â鶹´«Ã½ Research Fellow

2014 - 2019: Faculty Fellow to Senior Research Associate, Paediatric Brain Tumour Group, NU Centre for Cancer, Â鶹´«Ã½.

2004-2014; Researcher to Faculty Fellow; John Walton Neuromuscular Disease Centre, Institute of Human Genetics, Â鶹´«Ã½.


Honours and Awards

Best "Basic and Translational Science" research at International Society of Paediatric Oncology, Lyon, 2019

Â鶹´«Ã½ Research Fellowship awarded in 2019 in molecular cancer survivorship.

Â鶹´«Ã½ Faculty Fellowship awarded in June 2013 by the Faculty of Medical Sciences in recognition of academic leadership potential.

Elsevier award for best oral presentation. 18th Congress of the World Muscle Society, Asilomar, California, October 2-6, 2013.

Poster selected from >200 for presentation in ‘highlights’ session, 15th Congress of the World Muscle Society, Kumamoto, Japan, October 12-16, 2010.

Elsevier Award for best oral presentation. 13th Congress of the World Muscle Society, Â鶹´«Ã½, UK, October 17-20, 2008.


Memberships

UK Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG)

International Society for Paediatric Oncology; SIOPE-Brain Tumour Group Quality of Survival, Embryonal Tumours and Biology working groups.

UK3CR CNS



Google Scholar:

Research

More children are surviving their cancer diagnosis, but the intensive treatments required to achieve cure place them at increased risk of acute toxicities and long-term complications known as late effects. These late effects can affect multiple systems, including reproductive, cardiac, respiratory, endocrine, metabolic, and neurological (including neurocognitive) functions.


While advances in molecularly-driven risk stratification and therapeutics have improved survival rates, progress in addressing survivorship outcomes has been limited, particularly for paediatric brain tumours. Across Europe, there are an estimated 300,000–500,000 childhood cancer survivors, representing a significant unmet need that this research aims to address.


Specifically, my group focuses on:


  • Development and utilisation of treatment injury models to investigate the biological basis of late effects and support new interventional strategies.
  • Trials-based assessment of clinico-molecular correlates of late effects.
  • Evaluation of reduced-intensity therapies and development of drug and rehabilitation strategies.
  • Establishment of UK-wide data collection initiatives to advance childhood cancer survivorship research.
  • Molecular pathology studies in medulloblastoma to enable biomarker discovery.


The goal is to bring to bear concepts of molecularly-driven risk stratification and therapeutics to the survivorship space, reduce the late effect burden and improve quality of survival for childhood cancer survivors.











Teaching

Lecturer on MMB8018 – Biomolecular Research in Health and Disease

Lecturer on BMS3012 – Cancer Biology and Therapy

Research Project supervisor - BMS and MRes



Publications

  • Articles

    • Thompson D, Castle J, Sill M, Pfister SM, Bailey S, Hicks D, Clifford SC, Schwalbe EC. . Acta Neuropathologica Communications 2025, 13(1), 132.
    • Schwalbe EC, Lindsey JC, Danilenko M, Hill RM, Crosier S, Ryan SL, Williamson D, Castle J, Hicks D, Kool M, Milde T, Korshunov A, Pfister SM, Bailey S, Clifford SC. . Neuro-Oncology 2025, 27(1), 222-236.
    • Keeling C, Davies S, Goddard J, Ramaswamy V, Schwalbe EC, Bailey S, Hicks D, Clifford SC. . eClinicalMedicine 2024, 69, 102469.
    • Kohe S, Bennett C, Burte F, Adiamah M, Rose H, Worthington L, Scerif F, MacPherson L, Gill S, Hicks D, Schwalbe EC, Crosier S, Storer L, Lourdusamy A, Mitra D, Morgan PS, Dineen RA, Avula S, Pizer B, Wilson M, Davies N, Tennant D, Bailey S, Williamson D, Arvanitis TN, Grundy RG, Clifford SC, Peet AC. . eBioMedicine 2024, 100, 104958.
    • Castle J, Shaw G, Weller D, Fielder E, Egnuni T, Singh M, Skinner R, Von Zglinicki T, Clifford SC, Short SC, Miwa S, Hicks D. . Neuro-Oncology Advances 2024, 6(1), vdae091.
    • Goddard J, Castle J, Southworth E, Fletcher A, Crosier S, Martin-Guerrero I, Garcia-Ariza M, Navajas A, Masliah-Planchon J, Bourdeaut F, Dufour C, Ayrault O, Goschzik T, Pietsch T, Sill M, Pfister SM, Rutkowski S, Richardson S, Hill RM, Williamson D, Bailey S, Schwalbe EC, Clifford SC, Hicks D. . Acta Neuropathologica 2023, 145, 651–666.
    • Danilenko M, Zaka M, Keeling C, Crosier S, Lyman S, Finetti M, Williamson D, Hussain R, Coxhead J, Zhou P, Hill RM, Hicks D, Rand V, Joshi A, Schwalbe EC, Bailey S, Clifford SC. . Acta Neuropathologica 2022, 144, 565–578.
    • Williamson D, Schwalbe EC, Hicks D, Aldinger KA, Lindsey JC, Crosier S, Richardson S, Goddard J, Hill RM, Castle J, Grabovska Y, Hacking J, Pizer B, Wharton SB, Jacques TS, Joshi A, Bailey S, Clifford SC. . Cell Reports 2022, 40(5), 111162.
    • Richardson S, Hill RM, Kui C, Lindsey JC, Grabovksa Y, Keeling C, Pease L, Bashton M, Crosier S, Vinci M, Andre N, Figarella-Branger D, Hansford JR, Lastowska M, Zakrzewski K, Jorgensen M, Pickles JC, Taylor MD, Pfister SM, Wharton SB, Pizer B, Michalski A, Joshi A, Jacques TS, Hicks D, Schwalbe EC, Williamson D, Ramaswamy V, Bailey S, Clifford SC. . Neuro-Oncology 2022, 24(1), 153-165.
    • Hicks D, Rafiee G, Schwalbe EC, Howell CI, Lindsey JC, Hill RM, Smith AJ, Adidharma P, Steel C, Richardson S, Pease L, Danilenko M, Crosier S, Joshi A, Wharton SB, Jacques TS, Pizer B, Michalski A, Williamson D, Bailey S, Clifford SC. . Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology 2021, 47(2), 236-250.
    • Crosier S, Hicks D, Schwalbe EC, Williamson D, Leigh Nicholson S, Smith A, Lindsey JC, Michalski A, Pizer B, Bailey S, Bown N, Cuthbert G, Wharton SB, Jacques TS, Joshi A, Clifford SC. . Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology 2021, 47(6), 736-747.
    • Hill RM, Richardson S, Schwalbe EC, Hicks D, Lindsey JC, Crosier S, Rafiee G, Grabovska Y, Wharton SB, Jacques TS, Michalski A, Joshi A, Pizer B, Williamson D, Bailey S, Clifford SC. . The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health 2020, 4(12), 865-874.
    • Grabovska Y, Mackay A, O'Hare P, Crosier S, Finetti M, Schwalbe EC, Pickles JC, Fairchild AR, Avery A, Cockle J, Hill R, Lindsey J, Hicks D, Kristiansen M, Chalker J, Anderson J, Hargrave D, Jacques TS, Straathof K, Bailey S, Jones C, Clifford SC, Williamson D. . Nature Communications 2020, 11(1), 4324.
    • Schepke E, Tisell M, Kennedy C, Puget S, Ferroli P, Chevignard M, Doz F, Pizer B, Rutkowski S, Massimino M, Navajas A, Schwalbe E, Hicks D, Clifford SC, Pietsch T, Lannering B. . Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics 2020, 25(4), 425-433.
    • Sharma T, Schwalbe EC, Williamson D, Sill M, Hovestadt V, Mynarek M, Rutkowski S, Robinson GW, Gajjar A, Cavalli F, Ramaswamy V, Taylor MD, Lindsey JC, Hill RM, Jager N, Korshunov A, Hicks D, Bailey S, Kool M, Chavez L, Northcott PA, Pfister SM, Clifford SC. . Acta Neuropathologica 2019, 138, 309-326.
    • Stock A, Mynarek M, Pietsch T, Pfister SM, Clifford SC, Goschzik T, Sturm D, Schwalbe EC, Hicks D, Rutkowski S, Bison B, Pham M, Warmuth-Metz M. . American Journal of Neuroradiology 2019, 40(11), 1811-1817.
    • Goschzik T, Schwalbe EC, Hicks D, Smith A, zur Muehlen A, Figarella-Branger D, Doz F, Rutkowski S, Lannering B, Pietsch T, Clifford SC. . The Lancet Oncology 2018, 19(12), 1602-1616.
    • Schwalbe EC, Lindsey JC, Nakjang S, Crosier S, Smith AJ, Hicks D, Rafiee G, Hill RM, Iliasova A, Stone T, Pizer B, Michalski A, Joshi A, Wharton SB, Jacques TS, Bailey S, Williamson D, Clifford SC. . The Lancet Oncology 2017, 18(7), 958-971.
    • Schwalbe EC, Hicks D, Rafiee G, Bashton M, Gohlke H, Enshaei A, Potluri S, Matthiesen J, Mather M, Taleongpong P, Chaston R, Silmon A, Curtis A, Lindsey JC, Crosier S, Smith AJ, Goschzik T, Doz F, Rutkowski S, Lannering B, Pietsch T, Bailey S, Williamson D, Clifford SC. . Scientific Reports 2017, 7, 13421.
    • Harris E, Topf A, Barresi R, Hudson J, Powell H, Tellez J, Hicks D, Porter A, Bertoli M, Evangelista T, Marini-Betollo C, Magnusson O, Lek M, MacArthur D, Bushby K, Lochmuller H, Straub V. . Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases 2017, 12(151), -.
    • Izquierdo E, Yuan L, George S, Hubank M, Jones C, Proszek P, Shipley J, Gatz SA, Stinson C, Moore AS, Clifford SC, Hicks D, Lindsey JC, Hill RM, Jacques TS, Chalker J, Thway K, O'Connor S, Marshall L, Moreno L, Pearson A, Chesler L, Walker BA, De Castro DG. . Oncotarget 2017, 8(67), 112036-112050.
    • Clifford SC, Lannering B, Schwalbe EC, Hicks D, O'Toole K, Nicholson SL, Goschzik T, Zur-Mühlen A, Figarella-Branger D, Doz F, Rutkowski S, Gustafsson G, Pietsch T. . Oncotarget 2015, 6(36), 38827-38839.
    • Clifford SC, Lannering B, Schwalbe EC, Hicks D, O'Toole K, Nicholson SL, Goschzik T, zur Muhlen A, Figarella-Branger D, Doz F, Rutkowski S, Gustafsson G, Pietsch T, SIOP-Europe PNET Grp. . Oncotarget 2015, 6(36), 38827-38839.
    • Zou Y, Zwolanek D, Izu Y, Gandhy S, Schreiber G, Brockmann K, Devoto M, Tian Z, Hu Y, Veit G, Meier M, Stetefeld J, Hicks D, Straub V, Voermans NC, Birk DE, Barton ER, Koch M, Bönnemann CG. . Human Molecular Genetics 2014, 23(9), 2339-2352.
    • Hicks D, Farsani G, Laval S, Collins J, Sarkozy A, Martoni E, Shah A, Zou Y, Koch M, Bönnemann C, Roberts M, Lochmüller H, Bushby K, Straub V. . Human Molecular Genetics 2014, 23(9), 2353-2363.
    • Hicks D, Farsani GT, Laval S, Collins J, Sarkozy A, Martoni E, Shah A, Zou Y, Koch M, Bönnemann CG, Roberts M, Lochmüller H, Bushby K, Straub V. . Human Molecular Genetics 2014, 23(9), 2353-2363.
    • Foley AR, Quijano-Roy S, Collins J, Straub V, McCallum M, Deconinck N, Mercuri E, Pane M, D'Amico A, Bertini E, North K, Ryan MM, Richard P, Allamand V, Hicks D, Lamande S, Hu Y, Gualandi F, Auh S, Muntoni F, Bonnemann CG. . Brain 2013, 136(12), 3625-3633.
    • Cossins J, Belaya K, Hicks D, Salih MA, Finlayson S, Carboni N, Liu WW, Maxwell S, Zoltowska K, Farsani GT, Laval S, Seidhamed MZ, WGS500 Consortium, Donnelly P, Bentley D, McGowan SJ, Muller J, Palace J, Lochmuller H, Beeson D. . Brain 2013, 136(3), 944-956.
    • Sarkozy A, Hicks D, Hudson J, Laval SH, Barresi R, Hilton-Jones D, Deschauer M, Harris E, Rufibach L, Hwang E, Bashir R, Walter MC, Krause S, van den Bergh P, Illa I, Penisson-Besnier I, De Waele L, Turnbull D, Guglieri M, Schrank B, Schoser B, Seeger J, Schreiber H, Glaser D, Eagle M, Bailey G, Walters R, Longman C, Norwood F, Winer J, Muntoni F, Hanna M, Roberts M, Bindoff LA, Brierley C, Cooper RG, Cottrell DA, Davies NP, Gibson A, Gorman GS, Hammans S, Jackson AP, Khan A, Lane R, McConville J, McEntagart M, Al-Memar A, Nixon J, Panicker J, Parton M, Petty R, Price CJ, Rakowicz W, Ray P, Schapira AH, Swingler R, Turner C, Wagner KR, Maddison P, Shaw PJ, Straub V, Bushby K, Lochmuller H. . Human Mutation 2013, 34(8), 1111-1118.
    • Sarkozy A, Deschauer M, Carlier RY, Schrank B, Seeger J, Walter MC, Schoser B, Reilich P, Leturq F, Radunovic A, Behin A, Laforet P, Eymard B, Schreiber H, Hicks D, Vaidya SS, Glaser D, Carlier PG, Bushby K, Lochmuller H, Straub V. . Neuromuscular Disorders 2012, 22(s2), S122-S129.
    • Hicks D, Sarkozy A, Muelas N, Koehler K, Huebner A, Hudson G, Chinnery PF, Barresi R, Eagle M, Polvikoski T, Bailey G, Miller J, Radunovic A, Hughes PJ, Roberts R, Krause S, Walter MC, Laval SH, Straub V, Lochmuller H, Bushby K. . Brain 2011, 134(1), 171-182.
    • Hicks D, Lampe AK, Laval SH, Allamand V, Jimenez-Mallebrera C, Walter MC, Muntoni F, Quijano-Roy S, Richard P, Straub V, Lochmuller H, Bushby KMD. . Brain 2009, 132(1), 147-155.
    • Lampe AK, Zou Y, Sudano D, O'Brien KK, Hicks D, Laval SH, Charlton R, Jimenez-Mallebrera C, Zhang R-Z, Finkel RS, Tennekoon G, Schreiber G, Van Der Knaap MS, Marks H, Straub V, Flanigan KM, Chu M-L, Muntoni F, Bushby KMD, Bonnemann CG. . Human Mutation 2008, 29(6), 809-822.
    • Hicks D, Lampe AK, Barresi R, Charlton RG, Fiorillo C, Bonnemann CG, Hudson J, Sutton R, Lochmüller HKM, Straub VW, Bushby KMD. . Neurology 2008, 70(14), 1192-1199.
    • Jimenez-Mallebrera C, Maioli MA, Kim J, Brown SC, Feng L, Lampe AK, Bushby K, Hicks D, Flanigan KM, Bonnemann C, Sewry CA, Muntoni F. . Neuromuscular Disorders 2006, 16(9-10), 571-582.

  • Book Chapters

    • Bushby KMD, Collins J, Hicks D. . In: Progress in Heritable Soft Connective Tissue Diseases. Dordrecht: Springer, 2014, pp.185-199.
    • Bushby KMD, Collins J, Hicks D. . In: Jaroslava Halper, ed. Progress in Heritable Soft Connective Tissue Diseases. Dordrecht: Springer, 2014, pp.185-199.
    • Hicks D, Collins JC, Bushby KMD. . In: Royce PM, Stenmann B, Wiley-Liss, ed. Connective Tissue and its Heritable Disorders. Springer Verlag, 2013.

  • Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

    • Mateos M, Williamson D, Danilenko M, Goddard J, Crosier S, Fletcher A, Schwalbe E, Hicks D, Bailey S, Clifford S. . In: 2024 International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-Oncology (ISPNO). 2024, Philadelphia: Oxford University Press.
    • Keeling C, Davies S, Goddard J, Ramaswamy V, Schwalbe E, Bailey S, Hicks D, Clifford S. . In: Abstracts from the 2024 International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-Oncology (ISPNO). 2024, Philadelphia: Oxford University Press.
    • Goddard J, Castle J, Southworth E, Fletcher A, Crosier S, Martin-Guerrero I, Garcia-Ariza M, Navajas A, Masliah-Planchon J, Bourdeaut F, Dufour C, Goschizk T, Pietsch T, Richardson S, Hill R, Williamson D, Bailey S, Schwalbe E, Clifford S, Hicks D. . In: 20th International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-Oncology (ISPNO 2022). 2022, Hamburg, Germany: Oxford University Press.
    • Goddard J, Castle J, Southworth J, Crosier S, Martin-Guerrero I, Garcia-Ariza M, Navaja A, Bourdeaut F, Dufour C, Goschzik T, Pietsch T, Williamson D, Bailey S, Schwalbe E, Clifford S, Hicks D. . In: Society for Neuro-Oncology’s 6th Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Basic and Translational Research Conference. 2021, Virtual: Oxford University Press.

  • Letters

    • Penisson-Besnier I, Saint-Andre JP, Hicks D, Sarkozy A, Croue A, Hudson J, Lochmuller H, Dubas F. . Journal of Neurology 2012, 259(9), 1988-1990.
    • Hicks D, Lampe A, Laval S, Allamand V, Jimenez-Mallebrera C, Walter M, Muntoni F, Quijano-Roy S, Richard P, Straub V, Lochmuller H, Bushby K. . Brain 2009, 132(10), e122.

  • Online Publication

    • Lampe A, Flanigan K, Bushby KMD, Hicks D. . 2012. Available at: .