Dr Sylwia Ammoun

Education and qualifications

• 2005 PhD dissertation, Uppsala University, Sweden, Orexin Receptors in Recombinant CHO Cells. Signaling to Short- and Long Term Cells responses
• 2004 Transfer, Uppsala University, Sweden
• 1997 Degree of Master of Science, Uppsala University, Sweden Immunomodulatory-and-cytokine gene-cancer therapy
• 1996 BScs, Uppsala University, Sweden

Professional membership

Member of South of England Brain Tumour Alliance (SEBTA)

Teaching interests

Teaching experience

I enjoy sharing my knowledge and always appreciate teaching in which I have over 20 years of experience.

Uppsala University, Sweden  

From 1998 to 2005 I taught medical-, pharmacology- and nurse-students in the following subjects: hemodynamics (blood-vascular circulation-system), the safety of medical equipment (current), optical refraction of the eye, heart anatomy (dissection), oscilloscope and pacemaker and muscle structure and function. During this time I also supervised undergraduate and BSc biomedical students and lab assistants.

Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth, UK

From 2006 until present I have supervised PhD, MSc, BSc, and undergraduate students in different projects. Between 2006 and 2007 I taught medical students in 'Neurodegenerativedisorders' and 'Disease prevention and management-vaccines ‘and 2019 biomedical students in 'Tumours of the nervous system'.

Teaching education

• 2014 Internal and External Doctoral Examiners training
• 2011 Learning and Teaching for general Teaching Associates (GTA) training including: Theories of Learning and Teaching, Planning Sessions and Delivering Presentations, Learning in Groups, Evaluating Teaching and Giving Feedback, Assessment, Dealing with difficult Situations and Assessment Criteria and Marketing.
  
• 2008 Problem-based learning (PBL) facilitator training.

Research interests

Research interests and experience

My previous career included the following projects: 1) The development of immunomodulatory cancer vaccines to treat Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) (Clinical Immunology),2)Investigation of the role of endogenous retroviruses in Multiple Sclerosis(MS)(Clinical Virology) and 3) Revealing the signalling of orexinergic receptors towards cell fate determination (Neuroscience).

Since January 2006 I have been working at Professor Oliver Hanemann’s laboratory (Brain Tumour Centre Faculty of Health and Human Sciences - University of Plymouth ). My work has centered on the investigation of the mechanisms involved in the development of Neurofibromatosis type II-related and sporadic schwannoma and meningioma tumours of the nervous system, as well as defining potential therapeutics for this group of tumours.

Ph.D. students supervision: 6 PhD students as Director of Study (DoS), 4 PhD students as co-supervisor. 

Our research team have received an award from Neurofibromatosis (NF) Advocature in recognition of our research and continued commitment to NF2. Additionally, my work within theNF2 field contributed to two phase 0 clinical trials (as co-investigator) at our unit in collaboration with Manchester Hospital. 

Other research

Current projects

TAM family receptors as potential therapeutic targets in schwannoma and meningioma tumours (DoS)

The role of cellular prion Protein (PrPC) in the development of schwannoma and meningioma tumours (Dos)

The role of PrPC in the development of multi drug resistance (MDR) in schwannoma and meningioma tumours (DoS)

Previous projects

2013-2021

The role of Endogenous retroviruse type K (HERVK) in the development of schwannoma and meningioma tumours (DoS). Publication (2022) led to current clinical trials in Neurofibromatosis type II patients.

The project involved the investigation of the role of the endogenous retroviruses in tumourigenesis of schwannoma and meningioma tumours and testing anti HIV drugs as potential therapeutics.

The role of cellular Prion protein PrPC in the development of schwannoma tumours of the nervous system (DoS).

The project focused on the investigation of the overexpression and targetability of PrPC proteins in schwannoma tumours.

2011-2013

p53/mouse double minute 2homolog complex deregulation in Merlin-deficient tumours (First author)

This project involved the investigation of the role of p53 deregulation in schwannoma development and targeting pathways involved in p53 degradation. In this project, I was first author.

Gas6/Axl-family receptors in schwannoma pathological proliferation, adhesion and survival (First author)

In this project, we have investigated the role of Axl receptor inschwannoma pathological proliferation, cell-matrix adhesion, and survival. In this project, I was the first and corresponding author.

2010-2012

The role of insulin-like growth factors (IGF1/2) signalling inMerlin-deficient human schwannomas (First author)

and

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) regulates human schwannoma proliferation, adhesion and survival (First author)

In these studies, we have demonstrated that IGF1/2 and IGFBP-1 are released from schwannoma cells and IGF-I receptor overexpressed leading to increased schwannoma proliferation and cell-matrix adhesion. In these projects I was first author.

2010-2011

Nilotinib alone or incombination with selumetinib is a drug candidate for neurofibromatosis type 2 (First author)

In this project we have tested the therapeutic effectiveness of a PDGFRinhibitor Nilotinib and a MEK1/2 inhibitor selumetinib (AZD6244), in humanschwannoma in vitro model. In these projects I was firstauthor.

2009-2010

ErbB/HER receptoractivation and preclinical efficacy of lapatinib in vestibular schwannoma (First author)

This project was in collaboration with Dr Karajannis (USA) to test EGFR/HER inhibitor Lapatinib in human schwannoma in vitro model. In these projects I shared first authorship.

2008-2009

Targeting ERK1/2 activation and proliferation in human primary schwannoma cells with MEK1/2 inhibitorAZD6244 (First author)

In this study, we have tested the therapeutic effectiveness of a MEK1/2inhibitor AZD6244, in human schwannoma in vitro model. In these projects I was first author.

2007-2008

Dissecting and targeting the growth factor-dependent and growth factor-independent extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway in human schwannoma (First author)

Here we demonstrated that PDGFRβ is strongly overexpressed in schwannoma cells leading to increased schwannoma proliferation. We have also successfully tested a PDGFR/Raf inhibitor Sorafenib. In these projects, I was the first author.

1999-2005

PhD project                                                                                          

Orexin Receptors in Recombinant CHO Cells. Signaling to Short- and Long Term Cells responses (First author and co-author)

The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms of orexin receptor coupling to the cascades regulating cell fate and also the assessment of the molecular determinants involved in orexin peptide-orexin receptor interaction.

1997-1998

Research project

Endogenous retroviruses in neurodegenerative diseases (co-author)

This project focused on the investigation of the expression of the endogenous retrovirus (ERV9)-related proteins in peripheral blood cells and presence in sera from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.

1996-1997

MSc research project

Immunomodulatory-and-cytokine gene-cancer therapy

The aim of this was to design cancer vaccines to treat leukemia and lymphoma. The vaccines would be implemented in both immunotherapy and gene therapy. For immunotherapy, human blood monocytes were separated and differentiated into dendritic cells for antigen presentation and activation of cellular immunity. For cytokine gene therapy, genes for various cytokines were transferred into acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells via retrovirus- and adenovirus-based vectors.

2011-2019

Clinical Research

I was involved in phase 0 clinical trials testing Sorafenib in Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) patients. I perform tests on tumour tissue and blood samples from patients to look for the effect of these drugs on signalling pathways known to be involved in the development of Merlin-deficient tumours.

Research degrees awarded to supervised students

Supervisor of Ph.D. students: 6 students (DoS), 4 students (co-supervisor)

Grants & contracts

Research grants

2020 Animal Free Research UK:  Investigating the role of TYRO3, AXL and MERTK(TAM) receptors in Merlin deficient brain tumours; schwannomas and meningioma’: £84,369.79

2018  AnimalFree UK charity 01/08/2018-30/09/2018; ‘Investigating the role of TYRO3, AXL and MERTK(TAM) receptors in Merlin deficient brain tumours; schwannomas and meningioma’:£1,940.00.

2018 GreatOrmond Street Hospital Children'sCharity Grants: ‘Investigation and targeting cellular prion protein PrPC in neurofibromatosis type II related tumoursschwannomas, meningiomas and spinal ependymomas. Sylwia Ammoun: lead applicant and DoS; Oliver Hanemannco-applicant. £112,000, two years.

2016 ActionMedicalResearch for children: ‘The role of Endogenous Retroviral proteins in the development of Merlin-deficient tumours and as potential immunotherapy and/or drug targets’. Sylwia Ammoun: lead applicant and DoS, RobertBelshaw:co-applicant. September 2016-September 2018. Consumables£65,061.                                  

2015 InternalPhDstipend: ‘Endogenous Retroviral proteins as potential drug targets for Merlyn-deficient tumours and their role in tumour development.Sylwia Ammoun: lead applicant andDoS, Robert Belshaw: co-applicant. November 2016-November 2019. Student’s stipend, £61,000.

2014   Action on Hearing Loss Flexi grant, ‘Endogenous Retroviral proteins as potential immunotherapy and/or drug targets for Merlin-deficient tumours treatment and their role in vestibular neuroma development’. Sylwia Ammoun: lead applicant and DoS, Robert Belshaw: co-applicant. November 2014-April2014.Consumables £4697.

2014   TheLaura Crane Youth Cancer Trust grant, ‘The role of prion proteinsinMerlin-deficient tumours’. Sylwia Ammon: principal applicant and DoS.October2014-October 2016. Consumables £24,000.

2013 InternalPhDstipend. ‘The role of cellular prion proteins in schwannoma and otherMerlin-deficient tumours’. Sylwia Ammoun: Principal applicant and DoS.October2013-October 2016. Student’s stipend £61,000.

2009 Northcott Devon Medical Foundation project grant, single applicant. The role of Insulinlike growth factors in schwannoma development.£5,000.