Dr Martin Read PhD

• Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2014)
• PhD in Medicine, University of Birmingham (1996)
• BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry, University of Birmingham (1991)

Martin qualified with a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry from the University of Birmingham in 1991. He subsequently undertook a PhD investigating insulin gene regulatory proteins under the supervision of Professor Kevin Docherty at the University of Birmingham, relocating to the University of Aberdeen in 1994 to complete his doctoral studies.

In 1997, Martin continued his postdoctoral research in the laboratory of Professor Leonard Seymour at the Institute for Cancer studies, University of Birmingham, where he worked on the development of novel synthetic gene delivery vectors. This was followed by a move to the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Oxford. In 2003, he joined the Molecular Neuroscience group led by Professors Ann Logan and Martin Berry at the University of Birmingham, focusing on siRNA-targeted therapeutics and CNS axonal regeneration.

Since 2007, Martin’s research has focused primarily on endocrine cancers, particularly thyroid and breast, in the laboratory of Professor Christopher McCabe at the University of Birmingham. His work has centred on generating mechanistic insights into novel proto-oncogenes, and investigating the use of repurposed drugs to enhance anticancer therapies. More recently, his research has incorporated drug discovery approaches for endocrine cancer, including the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning platforms, bioinformatic analyses of large datasets, animal models and the development of cell-based drug screening assays.

Teaching Programmes

• Biomedical Sciences BSc
• Biomedical Science MSci
• Cancer Sciences MRes
• Medicine and Surgery MBChB
• Pharmacy MPharm

Martin has previously co-supervised PhD students, MRes, BSc and medical students.

Martin’s research interests focus on understanding the molecular and cellular pathways dysregulated in cancer and translating this knowledge into targeted therapeutic strategies. His publication in Clinical Cancer Research identified a new approach to stimulate radioiodide uptake and tumour killing by pre-treating thyroid cancer patients with drugs that target endocytosis of the sodium iodide symporter (NIS) prior to radioiodide administration (Read ML et al., 2024). More recently, a study published in eBioMedicine identified a disulfiram-derived strategy capable of targeting oncogenically dysregulated cellular processes, such as proteostasis and transcription, outside canonical signalling pathways to enhance NIS function in thyroid and breast cancer (Brookes K et al., 2026).

Martin also has a broader interest in applying technologies such as high-throughput drug screening (HTS), bioinformatics and tandem mass spectrometry to identify targetable processes that regulate NIS function. His publication in Cell Chemical Biology used HTS to reveal multiple proteostasis pathways central to the cellular processing of NIS. By combining inhibitors of distinct molecular processes, this work demonstrated robust increases in radioiodide uptake (Read ML et al., 2022). In complementary work published in Cancer Research, mass spectrometry identified previously undefined NIS-interacting proteins that regulate its trafficking or retention at the plasma membrane (Fletcher A et al., 2020).

Ongoing investigations aim to incorporate recent advances in artificial intelligence/machine learning platforms, bioinformatics, drug discovery, cell culture systems, and animal models to improve the translational potential of this research.

Selected Awards

• Springer Nature Editor of Distinction Award (2026)
• American Thyroid Association Meeting Award (2024)
• Therapeutic Horizons in Endocrinology & Diabetes Meeting Award (2016)
• British Thyroid Association Meeting Award (2013)
• Research & Knowledge Transfer Executive – Paper of the Month Award (2011)
• British Thyroid Association Meeting Award (2010) 

Membership of Societies

• American Thyroid Association (ATA)
• American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
• European Association for Cancer Research (EACR)
• Society for Endocrinology (SfE)
• British Thyroid Association (BTA)
• British Mass Spectrometry Society (BMSS)
• British Association for Cancer Research (BACR)
• British Society for Cell Biology (BSCB) 

Membership of Committees

• Society for Endocrinology Science Committee (2026-present)
• American Thyroid Association Programme Committee (2024-present)
• Society for Endocrinology Thyroid Science Network Convenor (2023-present)
• Society for Endocrinology Programme Committee (2023-2026)
• British Thyroid Association Executive Committee (2021-2024) 

Editorial Positions and Peer Review

• Associate Editor, Cancer Cell International (2026-present)
• Associate Editor, Thyroid Research (2024-present)
• Associate Editor, Frontiers in Endocrinology (2022-present)
• Editorial Board Member, Discover Oncology (2026-present)
• Editorial Board Member, Cancer Gene Therapy (2020-present)
• 180 Verified Peer Reviews (2004-present) 

University of Birmingham

IMSR Lead, Postdoctoral/Early Researcher, Career Development and Training (PERCAT), College of MDS (2011-2012)