Prof David Lewis

Biography

Professor David Y. Lewis is a Professor of Molecular Imaging at the University of Glasgow and a Group Leader at the CRUK Scotland Institute. David leads an interdisciplinary team dedicated to deciphering the dynamic metabolic phenotype of cancer. His work focuses on resolving the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of tumour metabolism, which is recognised as a key driver of malignancy and therapeutic resistance.

David’s lab achieves this by developing novel radiotracers to interrogate alternative metabolic pathways and then integrating advanced preclinical Positron Emission Tomography (PET) data acquired from high-fidelity preclinical models with spatial biology techniques to deconvolve tissue and cellular-level metabolic activity. Their core objective is to move beyond static, end-point measurements to capture the real-time, functional plasticity of tumour biochemistry. This focus extends beyond the tumour itself to include the metabolic reprogramming in the host, specifically investigating whole-body metabolic drivers in cancer cachexia as part of the Cancer Grand Challenges CANCAN project. The laboratory integrates AI and machine learning for predictive modelling, aiming to develop non-invasive tumour classification methods that directly guide therapeutic strategies.

In addition to his laboratory direction, David contributes significantly to national imaging infrastructure. He serves as Co-Director of the MRC Scotland Total-Body PET Facility, Deputy Director for CRUK RadNet Glasgow, heads the Translational Molecular Imaging Facility at the CRUK Scotland Institute, and chairs the Whole-Body Imaging Facility within the University of Glasgow Shared Research Facilities. He is passionate about improving accessibility to imaging infrastructure through collaborative research.

Appointments

• 2017–present: Group Leader, Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute, Glasgow, UK
• 2012–2016: Senior Postdoctoral Fellow, Radionuclide Imaging Facility, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, UK
• 2011–2016: Research Associate, Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge, UK
• 2009–2016: Honorary Visiting Researcher, Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, UK
• 2015: ‘CRUK Awarded’ Visiting Scholar, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, USA
• 2009–2012: Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Cambridge Research Institute, Cancer Research UK
• 2008–2009: Research Fellow in Neuroscience, Translational Medicine Research Collaboration, University of Glasgow, UK
• 2007–2008: Study Director, CNS and Rodent Safety Pharmacology, Aptuit Limited, Riccarton, UK
• 2003–2008: Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Pharmacology, University of Strathclyde, UK

Current committee membership

• Steering Board, CRUK RadNet

Honours and awards

• EJNMMI Research: Best Paper Award – EANM Springer Prize, 2017
• Young Investigator of the Year Award Finalist (World Molecular Imaging Congress, New York), 2016
• Industry Sponsored Award Winner (World Molecular Imaging Congress, New York), 2016
• Research Travel Award (CRUK), 2015
• John J. Lewis Award (University of Glasgow) for outstanding examination performance, 2003

Funding

• NIH