Robert Harris Email & Phone Number

Oxford, Gb

Oxford, Gb

Abingdon, England, United Kingdom

Abingdon, England, United Kingdom

Within the Adaptive Biology team, I leveraged immunological tools to provide in-depth phenotypic and functional characterisation of Adaptimmune’s specific peptide-enhanced affinity receptor (SPEAR) T cell products. I was responsible for the design and execution of large flow cytometry panels, including for profiling differentiation and exhaustion of transduced T cells. I performed cell-based assays for the evaluation and selection of "next-generation" T-cell products. I also pioneered the… Show more Within the Adaptive Biology team, I leveraged immunological tools to provide in-depth phenotypic and functional characterisation of Adaptimmune’s specific peptide-enhanced affinity receptor (SPEAR) T cell products. I was responsible for the design and execution of large flow cytometry panels, including for profiling differentiation and exhaustion of transduced T cells. I performed cell-based assays for the evaluation and selection of "next-generation" T-cell products. I also pioneered the design and optimisation of the PrimeFlow RNA assay to identify cells expressing difficult-to-detect T cell receptors that cannot be targeted using antibody or pHLA-dextramer techniques, as well as to more widely profile the relationship between TCR mRNA and protein expression. Show less

Guy'S Hospital, London

I worked in the Prof. Sophia Karagiannis lab based in the St John's Institute of Dermatology. My thesis was titled: "Modulation of B lymphocytes and antibody responses to solid tumours".I utilised flow cytofluorimetric, transcriptomic, fluorescence immunohistochemistry, single-cell RNAseq and long-read Ig repertoire studies to evaluate isotype-switched and memory B lymphocyte subsets, Ig isotype distribution, and clonal expansion profiles in breast cancer patients. My work established… Show more I worked in the Prof. Sophia Karagiannis lab based in the St John's Institute of Dermatology. My thesis was titled: "Modulation of B lymphocytes and antibody responses to solid tumours".I utilised flow cytofluorimetric, transcriptomic, fluorescence immunohistochemistry, single-cell RNAseq and long-read Ig repertoire studies to evaluate isotype-switched and memory B lymphocyte subsets, Ig isotype distribution, and clonal expansion profiles in breast cancer patients. My work established that B cells are associated with improved clinical outcomes, and confer IgG-biased, clonally expanded, and likely antigen-driven humoral responses in breast cancer. I also investigated the phenotype and function of B cells expressing IL-10, TGF-β and TNF-α within melanoma patient blood and tissues. I performed flow-based intracellular cytokine assays to quantify and phenotype B cell subsets, and ex vivo functional co-culture assays to investigate B cell-mediated modulation of CD4+ T-helper cell proliferation, cytokine expression, and FOXP3 expression.I collaborated with the Institute of Cancer Research, performing multiplex antibody isotyping assays (Luminex) to establish chemotherapy-induced changes in antibody isotype distribution of patients receiving oncolytic reoviral therapy. Collaborating within KCL, I performed fluorescence immunohistochemistry and sandwich ELISA (total and specific-IgG) to determine that intradermal challenge with recall antigens induces in situ mature B-cell accumulation and proliferation. Show less

Near Patient Testing Unit, Kent Science Park

I spent 12 months at the Novartis Near Patient Testing Unit developing an ultra-sensitive sandwich immunoassay diagnostic test for Malaria infection using a novel point-of-care-test “Niji” device. I carried out antibody screening to identify the most suitable candidates for assay development and optimal sensitivity.