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Dr Emily Bates
(she/her)
PhD
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Teams and roles for Emily Bates
Research Associate
Overview
I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Cardiff University’s VITAL (Viral Immunotherapies and Advanced Therapeutics) Lab, led by Professor Alan Parker. My research focuses on developing adenoviral therapies for glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive form of adult brain cancer, where treatment options remain limited and patient outcomes have changed little over recent decades.
My interest in adenoviral therapies developed during my PhD, which I completed in 2022. My doctoral research focused on engineering low-seroprevalence adenoviruses for cancer applications, exploring how less common adenovirus types could be used to overcome pre-existing immunity and improve the effectiveness of oncolytic virotherapies. This work provided a strong foundation in adenoviral vector design and sparked my commitment to developing viral therapies for cancers with a high unmet clinical need.
Since then, I have focused on advancing adenoviral therapies for glioblastoma. Supported initially by Cancer Research Wales and, more recently, through a Future Leaders post-doctiral fellowship from The Brain Tumour Charity, I am investigating new approaches to enhance the therapeutic potential of adenoviruses and improve outcomes for patients with brain cancer.
Alongside my research, I am passionate about translating scientific discoveries into patient benefit. As an Entrepreneurial Lead on the ICURe programme, I explored the commercial potential of novel therapies and engaged with patients, clinicians and industry partners to better understand the challenges of bringing innovations from the laboratory to the clinic. My goal is to develop therapies that are not only scientifically innovative, but that also have a clear pathway to improving the lives of people affected by brain cancer.
Publication
2026
- Varela Pereira, M. et al. 2026. 27 Development of precision virotherapies for Diffuse Midline Gliomas [Abstract]. Neuro-Oncology 28 (S1) noag172.048. (10.1093/neuonc/noag172.048)
- Mundy, R. M. et al. 2026. Identification of a novel fiber shaft structural motif and overexpression of key transcripts elucidated in human adenovirus D 10. PLoS Pathogens 22 (4) e1014182. (10.1371/journal.ppat.1014182)
2023
- Mundy, R. M. et al. 2023. Broad sialic acid usage amongst species D human adenovirus. npj Viruses 1 1. (10.1038/s44298-023-00001-5)
- Bates, E. A. et al. 2023. Engineering adenoviral vectors with improved GBM selectivity. Viruses 15 (5) 1086. (10.3390/v15051086)
2022
- Bates, E. A. et al. 2022. Development of a low seroprevalence, αvβ6 integrin selective virotherapy based on human adenovirus type 10. Molecular Therapy - Oncolytics 25 , pp.43-56. (10.1016/j.omto.2022.03.007)
- Bates, E. 2022. Developing Species D adenovirus vectors for cancer applications. PhD Thesis , Cardiff University.
2021
- Baker, A. T. et al., 2021. ChAdOx1 interacts with CAR and PF4 with implications for thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome. Science Advances 7 (49) eabl8213. (10.1126/sciadv.abl8213)
- Bates, E. A. et al. 2021. In vitro and in vivo evaluation of human adenovirus type 49 as a vector for therapeutic applications. Viruses 13 (8) 1483. (10.3390/v13081483)
- Baker, A. T. et al. 2021. The fiber knob protein of human adenovirus type 49 mediates highly efficient and promiscuous infection of cancer cell lines using a novel cell entry mechanism. Journal of Virology 95 (4) e01849-20. (10.1128/JVI.01849-20)
2020
- Hulin-Curtis, S. et al. 2020. Identification of folate receptor α (FRα) binding oligopeptides and their evaluation for targeted virotherapy applications. Cancer Gene Therapy 27 , pp.785-798. (10.1038/s41417-019-0156-0)
- Cunliffe, T. G. , Bates, E. A. and Parker, A. L. 2020. Hitting the target but missing the point: recent progress towards adenovirus-based precision virotherapies. Cancers 12 (11) 3327. (10.3390/cancers12113327)
Articles
- Varela Pereira, M. et al. 2026. 27 Development of precision virotherapies for Diffuse Midline Gliomas [Abstract]. Neuro-Oncology 28 (S1) noag172.048. (10.1093/neuonc/noag172.048)
- Mundy, R. M. et al. 2026. Identification of a novel fiber shaft structural motif and overexpression of key transcripts elucidated in human adenovirus D 10. PLoS Pathogens 22 (4) e1014182. (10.1371/journal.ppat.1014182)
- Mundy, R. M. et al. 2023. Broad sialic acid usage amongst species D human adenovirus. npj Viruses 1 1. (10.1038/s44298-023-00001-5)
- Bates, E. A. et al. 2023. Engineering adenoviral vectors with improved GBM selectivity. Viruses 15 (5) 1086. (10.3390/v15051086)
- Bates, E. A. et al. 2022. Development of a low seroprevalence, αvβ6 integrin selective virotherapy based on human adenovirus type 10. Molecular Therapy - Oncolytics 25 , pp.43-56. (10.1016/j.omto.2022.03.007)
- Baker, A. T. et al., 2021. ChAdOx1 interacts with CAR and PF4 with implications for thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome. Science Advances 7 (49) eabl8213. (10.1126/sciadv.abl8213)
- Bates, E. A. et al. 2021. In vitro and in vivo evaluation of human adenovirus type 49 as a vector for therapeutic applications. Viruses 13 (8) 1483. (10.3390/v13081483)
- Baker, A. T. et al. 2021. The fiber knob protein of human adenovirus type 49 mediates highly efficient and promiscuous infection of cancer cell lines using a novel cell entry mechanism. Journal of Virology 95 (4) e01849-20. (10.1128/JVI.01849-20)
- Hulin-Curtis, S. et al. 2020. Identification of folate receptor α (FRα) binding oligopeptides and their evaluation for targeted virotherapy applications. Cancer Gene Therapy 27 , pp.785-798. (10.1038/s41417-019-0156-0)
- Cunliffe, T. G. , Bates, E. A. and Parker, A. L. 2020. Hitting the target but missing the point: recent progress towards adenovirus-based precision virotherapies. Cancers 12 (11) 3327. (10.3390/cancers12113327)
Thesis
- Bates, E. 2022. Developing Species D adenovirus vectors for cancer applications. PhD Thesis , Cardiff University.
Biography
Dr. Emily Bates is a Brain Tumour Charity Future Leaders Fellow at Cardiff University, focusing on developing novel adenoviral therapies for glioblastoma. She completed her PhD in 2022, investigating oncolytic adenoviral vectors for cancer applications. Dr. Bates has eight peer-reviewed publications (four first author) and is named on two patent applications. She has been awarded PGR Excellence in Innovation, Peter Tomasec Poster Prize, and the ELRIG Early Career Professional Impact Award.
Dr. Bates gained expertise in oncolytic virotherapy during her master’s at MedImmune, whilst studying at the University of Liverpool. Participation in the Innovate UK, ICURe Explore Programme, reflects her commitment to translating academic research into patient treatments. Dr. Bates has presented her work at key conferences and has built collaborations developing a strong research network both locally, in Cardiff, as well as internationally. Dr. Bates also participates in public engagement events to promote cancer research across Wales.
Contact Details
Cancer Genetics Building, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN
Research themes
Specialisms
- Cancer therapy
- Virology