Our priority is to be an inclusive group where science is fun

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.

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.

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.

Dr 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.

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, Paula and Sara with their work on liver disease and cancer.

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.

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 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.

Jane Yung

CRUK TRACC PhD Student

Jane completed her three pre-clinical years of medical school at the University of St Andrews and was awarded a BSc in Medicine before transferring to the University of Edinburgh to begin the latter clinical years of medical school. Taking time out of medicine, she is now undertaking an intercalated PhD under the TRACC program to investigate the interactions between cancer cells and their surroundings in tumour initiation.

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?