Dr Steven J Coles

dr-steven-j-coles

Course Lead for Biological Sciences

School of Science and the Environment

Biological Sciences

Contact Details

email: [email protected]
tel: 01905 542577

Steve is a Biochemist with specialism in Immunology and Haematology. Steve’s research primarily focuses on a type of haematological cancer known as Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). His research has helped gain understating of how AML cells escape immune attack. Steve’s research also focusses on clinical medicine, and through collaboration with the Cardiology Department at the local NHS Trust, his work has identified new blood biomarkers that are associated with increased risk of heart attack.

Steve established and lead the Worcester Biomedical Research Group,. 

Teaching

Steve teaches across the Biological Sciences and Biomedical Sciences curricula.

Modules led by Steve:

  • BIOL1001 Cell Biology (1st year)
  • BIOL2004 Molecular & Cell Biology (2nd year)
  • BIOL3013 Biochemistry of Cancer (3rd year)
  • BIOL3023 Haematology & Transfusion Science (3rd year)
  • BIOS4002 Applied & Commercial Research (4th year)

Research

Steve has an established research track record in AML and Immunology, as well as the role of Oxidative Stress in Health & Disease. and Clinical Medicine.

Steve supervises several post-graduate project students (PhD), and his research has been supported by the Sir Halley Stewart Trust (SHT) and the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (IMBS).

PhD Completions:

  • Emma Wild (2024) - "Do human MLF proteins interact with the Hedgehog pathway and can the interaction be exploited as a potential target for AML?"
  • Angela Doughty (2024) - "Monitoring markers of oxidative stress in acute coronary syndrome"
  • James Hillier (2020) - “The Role of BCAT1 in the Development and Treatment of AML”

Publications

Recent Peer Reviewed Articles:

Doughty, A., Keane, G., Wadley A.J., Mahoney B., Bueno A.A and Coles S.J. (2024) Plasma thioredoxin, thioredoxin reductase and peroxiredoxin-4 in acute coronary syndrome identifies high risk patients: a clinical observation. International Journal of Cardiology doi/10.1016/j.ijcard.2024.131888

Carvalho, J.F., Coles, S.J and Bueno, A.A. (2023) Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) supplementation for the management of autoimmune rheumatic diseases: potential indications and opportunity for future research. Rheumatology International doi.org/10.1007/s00296-023-05490-4

Hillier, J., Allcott, G.J., Guest, L.A., Heaselgrave, W., Tonks, A., Conway, M.E., Cherry, A.L. and Coles S.J. (2022) The BCAT1 CXXC motif provides protection against ROS in acute myeloid leukaemia cells. Antioxidants doi/10.3390/antiox11040683

Rastogi, N., Baker, S., Man, S., Uger, R., Wong, M., Coles, S.J., Hodges, M., Gilkes, A., Knapper, S., Darley, R. and Tonks, A. (2021) Use of an anti-CD200 blocking antibody improves immune responses to AML in vitro and in vivo. British Journal of Haematology doi/10.1111/bjh.17125

Wadley, A.J., Cullen T, Vautrinot, J, Keane G, Bishop, N.C. and Coles, S.J. (2020) High intensity interval exercise increases the frequency of peripheral PD-1+ CD8+ Central memory T-cells and soluble PD-L1 in Humans Brain Behavior and Immunity – Health doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2020.100049

Heaselgrave, W., Hamad, A., Coles, S.J. and Hau, S. (2019) In vitro evaluation of the inhibitory effect of topical ophthalmic agents on Acanthamoeba viability Translational Vision Science & Technology 8(5), 2164-2591

Wadley, A.J., Keane, G., Cullen, T., James, L., Vautrinot, J., Davies, M., Hussey, B., Hunter, D.J., Mastana, S.S., Holiday, A., Petersen, S.V., Bishop, N.C., Lindley, M.R. and Coles, S.J. (2019) Characterisation of extracellular redox enzyme concentrations in response to exercise in humans Journal of Applied Physiology doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00340.2019

Wadley, A.J., Morgan, R.G., Heesom, K.J., Hole, P.S and Coles, S.J. (2018) Detecting intracellular thiol redox stat in leukaemia and heterogeneous immune cell populations: an optimized protocol for digital flow cytometers MethdosX 5, 1473-1483

Morgan, R.G., Chambers, A.C., Legge, D.N., Coles, S.J., Greenhough, A and Williams, A.C. (2018) Optimized delivery of siRNA into 3D tumour spheroid cultures in situ Scientific Reports 8(1), 7952

Coles, S.J. (2018) Targeting the immune checkpoint in cancer: is this a viable treatment option for AML? Open Access Journal of Oncology and Medicine 1(2), 1-2

Wadley, A.J., Holliday, A., Morgan, R.G., Heesom, K.J., Aldred, S., Peters, D.M., Bueno, A.A and Coles, S.J. (2018) Preliminary evidence of reductive stress in human cytotoxic T-cells following exercise Journal of Applied Physiology doi.org/10.1152/ japplphysiol.01137.2017

Coles, S.J and Wadley, A.J. (2017) Can BCAT1 expression level help predict disease progression in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Canc Oncol Open Access J 1(1), 1-5 

Wadley, A.J., Aldred, S and Coles, S.J. (2016) An unexplored role for Peroxiredoxin in exercise-induced redox signalling? Redox Biology 8, 51-58

Coles, S.J., Gilmour, M., Reid, R., Knapper, S., Man, S., Tonks, A. and Darley R.L. (2015) The immunosuppressive ligands PD-L1 and CD200 are linked in AML immunosuppression: identification of a new immunotherapeutic synapse. Leukaemia DOI: 10.1038/leu.2015.62.

Agathanggelou, A., Weston, V.J., Perry, T., Davies, N.J., Skowronska, A., Payne, D.T., Fossey, J.S., Oldreive, C.E., Wei, W., Pratt, G., Parry, H., Oscier, D., Coles, S.J., Hole, P.S., Darley, R.L., McMahon, M., Hayes, J.D., Moss, P., Stewart, G., Taylor, M.R. and Stankovic, T. (2015) Targeting the ATM-null phenotype in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia with pro-oxidants. Haematologica DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2014.115170.

Book Sections:

Wadley, A.J. and Coles, S.J. (2022) Time to ‘couple’ redox biology with exercise immunology in Oxidative Eustress in Exercise Immunology ISBN: 9781003051619

Wadley, A.J., Morgan R.G., Darley R.L., Hole, P.S and Coles, S.J. (2019) Using flow cytometry to detect and measure intracellular thiol redox status in viable T cells from heterogeneous populations Methods in Molecular Biology 1990, 53-70

Conferences:

Oct 2020 – EuroLeuk (poster presentation)

Apr 2020 – British Society for Haematology Annual Meeting (poster presentation), abstract available in BJHaem

Dec 2018(1) – American Society of Haematology Annual Meeting (poster presentation) abstract available in Blood

Dec 2018 (2) – American Society of Haematology Annual Meeting (poster presentation) abstract available in Blood

Dec 2014 – American Society of Haematology Annual Meeting (poster presentation) abstract available in Blood

Membership of Professional Bodies

Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (FIBMS).

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

External Roles

External Examiner:

MSc Haematology, Kingston University, UK
BSc Biomedical Sciences, Plymouth University
BSc Biomedical Sciences, The National School of Business Management, Sri Lanka

Doctoral Examinations:

PhD External Examiner (Samuel Olaitan, Mar 2025, Sussex University)
MPhil External Examiner (Joel Varghese, Nov 2024, Wolverhampton University)
PhD External Examiner (MJ Brown, Jun 2023, Loughborough University)
PhD External Examiner (Liana Glynn, Aug 2020, UWE)

Journal Editor:

(2021 – 2025) Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology