Nick BARKER

Epithelial Stem Cells and Cancer
PhD-Molecular Immunology: University of Reading, UK 
 

SUMMARY
Dr. Nick BARKER is a renowned researcher in the field of epithelial stem cell biology and cancer. He obtained his PhD from Reading University, UK in 1996 and went on to work with Professor Hans Clevers at the University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands, as a Postdoctoral Fellow. He later joined Semaia Pharmaceuticals BV and the Hubrecht Institute before becoming a Senior Principal Investigator at IMB, A*STAR, Singapore in 2010. He is currently a Research Director at IMCB. He has an h-index of 67 and in excess of 40,000 citations (Source: Web of Science).

Dr. Barker's research focuses on the role of epithelial stem cells in self-renewal and cancer, particularly in gastrointestinal tissues. He has made significant contributions to the field, including the identification of Lgr5 as a unique marker of adult stem cell populations and cancer origins.

AWARDS & GRANTS
  • 2023 NMRC OF-IRG 
  • 2022 Japanese Cancer Association (JCA) International Award
  • 2022 Elected as EMBO Associate Member
  • 2019 NMRC OF-IRG
  • Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher
  • 2016 NRF Investigatorship

RESEARCH

Epithelial Stem Cells and Cancer
The Barker group works on epithelial stem cell biology, with a specific focus on various gastrointestinal tissues including the intestine, stomach and esophagus. Through the identification of epithelial cell-surface markers, state-of-the-art mouse models and in vitro mouse and human-derived 3D organoid models, the group deciphers the role of dedicated stem cells in various biological contexts such as development, homeostasis, repair and cancer.


PUBLICATIONS   
  • A tumour-resident Lgr5+ stem-cell-like pool drives the establishment and progression of advanced gastric cancers
    Fatehullah et al. (Nature Cell Biology, 2021).

  • AQP5 enriches for stem cells and cancer origins in the distal stomach
    Tan et al. (Nature, 2020).

  • Lgr5-expressing chief cells drive epithelial regeneration and cancer in the oxyntic stomach
    Leushacke et al. (Nature Cell Biology, 2017).

  • Lgr5 Marks Stem/Progenitor Cells in Ovary and Tubal Epithelia
    Ng et al. (Nature Cell Biology 2014).

  • Crypt stem cells as the cells-of-origin of intestinal cancer
     Barker et al. (Nature, 2009).

  • Identification of stem cells in small intestine and colon by marker gene Lgr5
    Barker et al. (Nature, 2007).

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