Name: Dr. Andrew M Fry

Position: Professor of Cell Biology (1966-2024)

Research Description:

Andrew Fry, a renowned molecular cell biologist and a cherished member of the scientific community at the University of Leicester, UK, passed away on 30th April 2024 at the age of 57. His groundbreaking work on the cellular mechanisms of Never in Mitosis gene-A related kinases (Neks) made an indelible mark on the field..

Professor Fry's research aimed to better understand the biology of cancer, to  develop more effective treatments for patients with this major disease of unmet need.

Using mechanism-based molecular and cell biology, he took aimed to gain new insights into cancer-related processes, including cell division, microtubule organization, mitotic spindle assembly, centrosome biology and cell cycle checkpoints. Much of Prof. Fry's research focused on the regulation of these processes by protein phosphorylation and, more specifically, by members of the human NEK protein kinase family.

Specifically, he studied how perturbation of these normal biological processes leads to the cancer-related phenotypes of aneuploidy, chromosome instability, tumour heterogeneity and metastasis. He looked to identify cellular mechanisms of action, resistance pathways and biomarkers that will enable better use of current microtubule-based chemotherapies and generation of new personalised approaches to cancer treatment.

In addition to his work in cancer biology, Professor Fry was also interested in how inherited genetic defects lead to the multi-organ syndromic diseases known as ciliopathies. These developmental and degenerative disorders, which include cystic kidney diseases and retinopathies, arise through defects in the organization or signaling function of the antenna-like microtubule-based organelle, called the primary cilium.

A full posting of a memorial to  Andrew Fry appeared in the 06Sept2024 issue of the Journal of Cell Science: https://journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/137/17/jcs263478/361890/Remembering-Andrew-Fry-1966-2024

Lab Memberships

The Fry Laboratory (closed) (Principal Investigator/Director)

Contact Information

Address:
University of Leicester
Dpt Molecular and Cell Biology
Leicester
United Kingdom