Translational Gastroenterology and Liver Unit, John Radcliffe Hospital

Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre

Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research group page

Jenner Institute

DeLIVER consortium

Podcast: Hepatitis C vaccine

The Barnes group is an established research group with a focus on vaccines for complex viral pathogens and cancer, applied immunology, and cancer detection. We seek to translate laboratory and clinical findings through to human experimental medicine studies.

We focus on the development, optimisation, and evaluation of novel vaccines, targeting some of the most challenging infectious diseases and cancers, using mRNA/LNPs and viral vectors. The development of vaccines against both cancer and complex pathogens face shared challenges including antigenic diversity, within-host variation, and immune evasion. 

We have designed and developed vaccines for oncogenic Hepatitis B and C viruses, taking candidates from concept through to human trials, sometimes co-administered with check-point blockade in humans. We utilise immune responses during natural infection and or pre-cancer, to inform rational vaccine design. We are developing T cell–based pan-coronavirus vaccines and analyse responses to vaccines in patients with chronic diseases. We play a leading role in preventative cancer vaccine research at Oxford including the Oxford–GSK Immuno-Prevention Programme and the Lynch-Vax cancer vaccine program. The group integrates T cell and B cell immunology, mRNA and viral vector vaccine platforms, and advanced molecular and computational immunology to address the challenges in vaccine development.

Key questions of current focus within the group are: (i) Which antigens are most conserved and relevant across hosts? (ii) How do antigen expression and localisation influence immune recognition? (iii) Can we engineer vaccine constructs to overcome immune evasion? (iv) How does disease state affect immune recognition of vaccine antigens.

The lab uses state-of-the-art immunological and molecular techniques, including multi-parametric flow cytometry and ELISpot, Intracellular cytokine staining, scRNA-seq and transcriptomic analysis of antigen specific T cells, B cell isolation, BCR sequencing, and monoclonal antibody production, alongside vaccine design and generation and the assessment of antigen expression and immunogenicity in small animal models and humans.  

With investigators at the Ludwig and the Cancer Centre, we take an inter-disciplinary approach to develop new technologies for liver cancer early detection, funded by CRUK. For this we use spatial proteomics and transcriptiomics alongside novel imaging and molecular technologies for cancer diagnosis and risk. In Autumn 2025 we are moving to the Centre for Immuno-Oncology in the NDMRB, Old Road Campus site. 

Leadership roles include:  member of Joint Committee for Vaccines and Immunisation (JCVI), co-lead Oxford NIHR BRC Life Saving vaccine theme, lead for the Oxford Liver Cancer Centre of Excellence (CELESTE), CI for the CRUK program in liver cancer (HCC) early detection (DeLIVER programme developing novel  detection methodologies for the identification of HCC), co-director of the Oxford-GSK Go-Precise Alliance, lead for the NDM Career Development Fellowship scheme and NIHR Senior Investigator. Ellie continues to care for patients with advanced liver disease at OUH NHS Hospital Trust. She is accredited as a hospital consultant in hepatology and general medicine.