Dr Polly Gravells

School of Biosciences

University Teaching Associate

p.gravells@sheffield.ac.uk

Addison Building

Full contact details

Dr Polly Gravells
School of Biosciences
Addison Building
Sheffield
S10 2TN

Profile: I joined the School of Biosciences in 2021. Although new to the School, I have a long history with the University having completed my PhD in Cancer studies at the Medical School here in 2010 and returning in 2013 as a Post-doc. I teach molecular biology mainly on the biomedical science programme and on the cancer/genetic instability modules at level 3. I also teach in the skills lab practical sessions at level 1 and 2.

Research interests: I completed my PhD at the Institute for Cancer Studies, University of Sheffield, before becoming a post-doctoral researcher at Imperial College London and then a post-doctoral researcher back here in Sheffield. My research interests lie in
the molecular mechanisms of DNA repair and the cell cycle, particularly homologous recombination and how we can exploit defects in these pathways to develop novel treatment strategies for rare cancers in the clinic.

Publications

Journal articles

Egerton K, Mitchell TA, Gravells P, Katse R, Fisher M, Muthana M, Eyers CE, Eyers PA & Bryant HE (2023) 18P AURKB inhibition radiosensitises NSCLC by altering mitotic fate. ESMO Open, 8(1), 101664-101664.
King D, Li XD, Almeida GS, Kwok C, Gravells P, Harrison D, Burke S, Hallsworth A, Jamin Y, George S , Robinson SP et al (2023) Correction: MYCN expression induces replication stress and sensitivity to PARP inhibition in neuroblastoma. Oncotarget, 14(1), 21-22.
King D, Southgate HED, Roetschke S, Gravells P, Fields L, Watson JB, Chen L, Chapman D, Harrison D, Yeomanson D , Curtin NJ et al (2021) Increased replication stress determines ATR inhibitor sensitivity in neuroblastoma cells. Cancers, 13(24). View this article in WRRO
Halliwell JA, Gravells P & Bryant HE (2020) DNA fiber assay for the analysis of DNA replication progression in human pluripotent stem cells. Current Protocols in Stem Cell Biology, 54(1). View this article in WRRO
Harrision D, Gravells P, Thompson R & Bryant HE (2020) Poly(ADP-Ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) vs. poly(ADP-Ribose) polymerase (PARP) – function in genome maintenance and relevance of inhibitors for anti-cancer therapy. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, 7. View this article in WRRO
King D, Li XD, Almeida GS, Kwok C, Gravells P, Harrison D, Burke S, Hallsworth A, Jamin Y, George S , Robinson SP et al (2020) MYCN expression induces replication stress and sensitivity to PARP inhibition in neuroblastoma. Oncotarget, 11(23), 2141-2159. View this article in WRRO
Gravells P, Neale J, Grant E, Nathubhai A, Smith KM, James DI & Bryant HE (2018) Radiosensitization with an inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase: A comparison with the PARP1/2/3 inhibitor olaparib. DNA Repair , 61, 25-36. View this article in WRRO
Gravells PL, Grant E, Smith KM, James DI & Bryant HE (2017) Specific killing of DNA damage-response deficient cells with inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase. DNA Repair, 52, 81-91. View this article in WRRO
Gravells P, Hoh L, Solovieva S, Patil A, Dudziec E, Rennie IG, Sisley K & Bryant HE (2013) Reduced FANCD2 influences spontaneous SCE and RAD51 foci formation in uveal melanoma and Fanconi anaemia. Oncogene, 32(46), 5338-5346. View this article in WRRO
Gravells P, Hoh L, Sisley K & Bryant HE (2012) FANCD2: lessons in recombination from uveal melanoma.. MUTAGENESIS, 27(1), 107-107.
Gravells P, Hoh L, Canovas D, Rennie IG, Sisley K & Bryant HE (2011) Resistance of uveal melanoma to the interstrand cross-linking agent mitomycin C is associated with reduced expression of CYP450R. British Journal of Cancer, 104(7), 1098-1105. View this article in WRRO
Hoh L, Gravells P, Canovas D, Ul‐Hassan A, Rennie IG, Bryant H & Sisley K (2011) Atypically low spontaneous sister chromatid exchange formation in uveal melanoma. Genes, Chromosomes and Cancer, 50(1), 34-42.

Teaching activities: I completed my PhD at the Institute for Cancer Studies, University of Sheffield, before becoming a post-doctoral researcher at Imperial College London and then a post-doctoral researcher back here in Sheffield. My research interests lie in
the molecular mechanisms of DNA repair and the cell cycle, particularly homologous recombination and how we can exploit defects in these pathways to develop novel treatment strategies for rare cancers in the clinic.

Professional activities and memberships: Member of the Royal Society of Biology, Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Authority