Our priority is to be an inclusive group where science is fun
Luke leads the Liver Growth and Cancer Lab
Dr Luke Boulter
Principal Investigator
Luke is a Cancer Research UK Career Development Fellow and Reader. He received his BSc(Hons) in Biology from the University of York and his PhD from Edinburgh. Luke established the Liver Growth and Cancer lab at the MRC Human Genetics Unit in 2014 where he hopes to foster a lab that is inclusive, supportive and fun.
Scott investigates the role of the cilium in PLD
Dr Scott Waddell
CSO Postdoctoral Fellow
Scott is a CSO-funded post-doctoral fellow. With a BSc in Biochemistry and MSc in Drug Discovery & Translational Biology, Scott now studies the role of primary cilia in liver homeostasis and disease. Outside of the lab, Scott likes to keep fit, play saxophone and explore Edinburgh’s pubs with friends.
Ed is interested in how immune cells help to initiate cancer
Dr Ed Jarman
CRUK Research Fellow
Ed’s research interests focus predominantly on the role of the immune microenvironment in the initiation and progression of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). He uses a variety of genetic murine models to investigate the role of Wnt pathway modulation on immune recruitment to the tumour, and to test the efficacy of experimental Wnt modulatory therapeutics for CCA.
Paula looks at how stromal cells control tumour growth
Dr Paula Olaizola
Skłodowska-Curie Fellow
Paula is a post-doctoral fellow She completed her PhD at the University of the Basque Country studying the role of post-translational modifications in the pathogenesis of cholangiocarcinoma. Paula’s current research is focused on understanding of the reciprocal interactions between cholangiocarcinoma cells and cancer associated fibroblasts within the emerging tumour microenvironment.
Sara investigates how the cilia regulates tumour heterogenity
Sara Teles
Cancer Research UK Fellow
Sara is a biologist with a master degree in Oncology from the University of Porto, Portugal. Before moving to Edinburgh, she worked as a research assistant in the Biffi group at the CRUK Cambridge Institute, where she studied the role of stromal cells in pancreatic cancer.
Sara is now a CRUK-funded post-doctoral researcher exploring the role of cilia in cholangiocarcinoma and its microenvironment.
Ersi is investigating how duct mechanics regulate growth
Ersi Christodoulou
MRC PhD Student
Ersi is PhD student who joined our lab through the MRC HGU program. She recently graduated from the University of Cambridge with a BSc in Natural Sciences where she specialised in Genetics. Her current PhD focuses on the formation of bile ducts during early development, and in particular the genetic and physical mechanisms behind this process.
Euan studies how tumour initiating cells manipulate tissue mechanics to grow.
Euan Brennan
MRC PhD Student
Euan is a cell biologist having undertaken his BSc at the University of York and completed a year in industry at the University of Glasgow. Euan is now an MRC funded PhD student and joined the lab as a program PhD student here in the HGU.
His thesis project aims to elucidate the role changes in tissue mechanics has in bile tract cancer initiation.
Andrea supports our work on liver disease and regeneration
Andreea Gradinaru
Research Assistant
Andreea completed her BSc in Life Sciences at Queen’s University in Canada. She then came to Edinburgh University for Masters by Research in reproductive science looking at cellular interactions in the ovary.
Within the lab Andreea supports Scott, Alex and Paula with their work on liver disease and cancer.
Aleks supports out work on liver cancer and tumour initiation
Aleks Rozyczko
Research Assistant
Aleks grew up in England and Denmark, before moving to Scotland in 2017 to do her Bachelors in Genetics, then MScR in Biomedical Science at University of Edinburgh. Since 2023 she has been working as a Research Assistant in the liver growth and cancer lab, helping Ed Jarman investigate the signals and mechanisms that regulate ductular cancer in the adult liver.
Mairi is interested in how cysts form and grow in the adult liver
Mairi Hodge
Research Assistant
Mairi undertook her BSc in Molecular Biology with the University of Edinburgh graduating in 2023. She previously worked in Inflammatory Bowel Disease research before joining the liver growth and cancer lab in 2025. As a Research Assistant, Mairi primarily works with Scott Waddell to investigate the molecular mechanisms behind Polycystic Liver Disease.
Want to join us?
We are always looking for people to join our team. If you are interested in any aspect of ductular biology - form development through to cancer then why not drop us an email to discuss fellowship opportunities?