Professor Munitta Muthana

Professor Munitta Muthana, Professor of Immuno-oncology and School Director of One University for School of Medicine and Population Health, Faculty of Health

Munitta first joined the University as a postdoctoral scientist in the Immunobiology Research Unit. She has since gone on to be an independent researcher, lecturer and was most recently appointed Professor of Immuno-oncology.

Munitta’s research on novel approaches to treating cancers through a ‘Trojan horse’ method to deliver cancer-killing viruses to tumours has culminated in an all-female spinout company, NanOncolytics. 

Having faced her own barriers to education, Munitta works tirelessly to make the School and Faculty a fairer and more diverse place to work.

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Munitta shares more about her research and reflects on her role as School Director of One University for the School of Medicine and Population Health:

“In terms of my research, my work in using a ‘Trojan horse’ approach to delivering drugs to tumours is what I’m most proud of. For me, using viruses to treat cancers is an approach that builds on something we see in nature. We know how viruses thrive in humans - they infect us and then make us unwell. 

“It’s taken us a long time to get to the point where we’re able to use viruses to cure cancer. In some places, such as the US, China and across Europe, viruses are being used to treat cancers like Melanoma. As Melanoma is a skin cancer you can target and inject the virus in quite a straightforward way. 

“For viruses to be a treatment for cancer and for them to realise their full potential, they’ve got to be injected into the bloodstream. However, when we inject a virus, our bodies quickly recognise that it’s something foreign and tries to fight back. That’s when your immune system comes into play which makes using this approach to fight cancer in the brain or bones more complex. This is where my research can be used, as the ‘Trojan horse’ hides the virus so you can inject it into the bloodstream and get it where you want it to go. There’s still some work to do, but I’d say watch this space in the next five or so years. 

“Alongside my research, I’m also the School Director of One University for the School of Medicine and Population Health. One of the reasons I'm committed to this work is that I believe it’s important that there are role models for women who come from very traditional backgrounds who might not have the same opportunities as everybody else. I came from a very traditional background and that’s a driving force behind why I do all the equality, diversity and inclusion work. I do it because we’re never going to be fair, we’re never going to be equitable unless you have representation right at the top level."

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Thank you to all the women for taking the time to share their stories and reflections and for providing the information featured in these web pages.