Dr Josh Coats

I’m Josh, and I’m originally from the West of Scotland, although I now consider myself to be an honorary Dundonian, having lived here for over 10 years. I completed my BMSc (Hons) in pharmacology at the University of Dundee in 2011, followed by my medical degree (MBChB) in 2013. From 2013 to 2021, I undertook clinical training towards becoming a consultant haematologist. In my clinical work, I diagnose and treat patients with lymphoma, so I am aware of the significant advances made in the treatment of blood cancers over recent years. However, I also understand that there is still much that we do not know and many areas in which better treatments are needed.

My desire to increase our understanding of lymphoma and hopes to advance our understanding of the role of a key enzyme, GSK3, in the development and treatment of lymphoma led me to undertake a PhD at the Clinical Research Centre at Ninewells, supervised by Professor Calum Sutherland and Dr Sudhir Tauro. The project was part of the Fraser Fellowship Doctoral Training Programme, generously funded by the Ninewells Cancer Campaign.

During the project, I showed that elraglusib, an inhibitor of GSK3 which has been recently shown to prolong survival in pancreatic cancer patients when combined with chemotherapy, has potent anti-lymphoma effects. However, these effects appear to be independent of GSK3, as other inhibitors of GSK3 did not have these anti-lymphoma characteristics. I went on to show that elraglusib functions as an inhibitor of cell division across many cancer types, similarly to several chemotherapy drugs which have been used clinically for decades. My work led to two scientific publications and an abstract at the American Society of Hematology annual meeting in San Diego.

Since finishing my PhD I have completed my clinical training and recently accepted a post as a consultant haematologist with a special interest in lymphoma at NHS Tayside. In future, I hope to open clinical trials to offer lymphoma patients in Dundee early access to novel treatment options and continue to collaborate closely with colleagues at the University of Dundee to pursue research in the field of lymphoma.

I am hugely thankful for the opportunity to undertake this research which has been funded by the Ninewells Cancer Campaign.