Rate My Professor Matthew Blunt

Matthew D. Blunt, PhD, FHEA, is Associate Professor of Translational Immunology at the University of Southampton's Faculty of Medicine, where he serves as Deputy Head of School for Clinical and Experimental Sciences and Deputy Programme Lead for the MSc in Genomics. He earned his PhD in immunology and pharmacology from the University of Bath in 2013, supported by funding from the BBSRC and Novartis. His postdoctoral training took place at the University of Southampton, initially in the CRUK Centre developing novel strategies for haematological malignancies, followed by research on natural killer (NK) cell activation against cancer in collaboration with Professor Salim Khakoo.

Leading a dedicated research team, Dr Blunt focuses on harnessing NK cells for innovative cancer immunotherapies, targeting both haematological malignancies like chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and lymphoma, and solid tumours including gastrointestinal stromal tumours and paediatric rhabdomyosarcoma. His investigations cover NK cell-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, modulation of immune checkpoints such as NKG2A and KIR, and interventions like XPO1 inhibition to enhance NK cell function against cancer cells in immunosuppressive environments, particularly lymph nodes. Notable publications include "The nuclear export protein XPO1 provides a peptide ligand for natural killer cells" (Science Advances, 2024), "Lymph node associated signals inhibit NK activation against leukemic cells via the immune checkpoint NKG2A" (Leukemia, 2023), "KIR2DS2 expression identifies NK cells with enhanced anti-cancer activity" (Journal of Immunology, 2022), "Targeting the PI3K/mTOR pathway in leukaemia" (Blood, 2015), and "Identification of IL-4 as a resistance mechanism to idelalisib and ibrutinib in leukaemia" (Blood, 2016, co-first author). Dr Blunt's contributions have earned him the Catovsky Prize from the UK CLL Forum, John Marsden Prizes from the University of Southampton (2015, 2016), Postdoctoral Career Track Award (2018), John Goldman Fellowship from Leukaemia UK (2019), selection as an Emerging Leader in Leukemia by Nature's Leukemia (2023), and John Goldman Fellowship Follow-up Fund Award (2024). His work fosters close ties with University Hospital Southampton clinicians and pharmaceutical industry partners, advancing translational research for improved cancer therapies.