About Us

Prof. Claude Chelala

Co-Principal Investigator

Professor Chelala joined Barts Cancer Institute driven by a high motivation to translate her work from a substantial basic/computational research platform into a translational/patient setting. She established a research team with complementary expertise in translational bioinformatics, health data science, molecular biology, databases and software engineering. She leads the Health Informatics and Bioinformatics for BCNB.

Dr. Emanuela Gadaleta

Senior Bioinformatician

Her interests are updating the bioinformatics data management system, expanding the analytical modules and functionalities, developing purpose-built graphical pug-ins and designing the bioinformatics infrastructure to allow the querying and analysis of data returned from projects using BCNB tissues.

Dr. Maryam Abdollahyan

Data Manager

Her research is focused on Machine Learning with applications in Bioinformatics and Health Informatics, and Data Management of the Breast Cancer Now Tissue Bank (BCNTB).

Dr. Qianqian Zhu

Data Scientist/Software Engineer

Her research is focused on Machine Learning with applications in Bioinformatics and Health Informatics, and Data Management of the Breast Cancer Now Tissue Bank (BCNTB).

Prof. Louise Jones

Co-Principal Investigator

Professor Louise Jones joined Barts Cancer Institute in April 2004. She trained in Medicine at Leicester University and specialised in Breast Pathology, undertaking a PhD at the Breast Cancer Research Unit in Leicester analysing the tumour-suppressor role of breast myoepithelial cells. Professor Jones is Co-PI of the national Breast Cancer Now Biobank which includes the Primary Breast Cell Bank, isolating cell populations from tissues for the research community.

Catherine McMaster-Christie

Operations Manager

A professional with experience of leading teams in high pressure environments to support crucial research outcomes. Since completing her MSc in 2018 she have gained significant experience in Cancer Biobanking, having moved from delivery to coordination, and now to management of a Biobank. She ensure that her team is set up for success and fit for the future, bringing a focus on wellbeing whilst ensuring our outcomes are known, communicated, and met effectively.

Katie Thornton

Deputy Operations Manager

Support the day-to-day operations and ensuring smooth coordination across all centres.

Sonal Varsani

Quality Assurance Manager

Oversees sample quality controls and ensures compliance with biobank SOP and audit requirements.

Centre Coordinator North

Regional Centre Lead

Supports local recruitment pathways and centre-specific coordination of sample and data capture.

Centre Coordinator Midlands

Clinical Liaison

Works with site clinicians to align patient consent flows and operational timelines across participating centres.

Centre Coordinator South

Partnership Manager

Maintains cross-centre collaboration, communications, and delivery planning for shared BCNB initiatives.