Dr Elia is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. In 2020 she was awarded an Education Excellence Award for Careers and Employability and in 2023 a collaborative Education Excellence Award for the Professional Training Year. She has also completed the AURORA Women in Leadership Development Programme. 

Before her appointment as lecturer in 2018, Dr Elia was an associate member of the Molecular and Cell Sciences Research Institute (MCS-RI). Her research focuses on investigating the translational control mechanisms for the sensitization of pancreatic cancer cells to anti-proliferative treatments. This includes the identification of genes that play a role in the resistance of pancreatic cancer cells to combination therapies. This strategy will be important in understanding the mechanisms that such tumour cells use to become resistant, currently a major problem with patient therapies and a determining factor to survival rates.

A complete list of publications can be found at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=elia+a+and+clemens&sort=date

1. Rimmer E, Rashid S, Kraev I, Miralles F, Elia A. Extracellular Vesicles Inhibit the Response of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cells to Gemcitabine and TRAIL Treatment. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Jul 15;23(14):7810. 

 2. Elia A*, Henry-Grant R, Adiseshiah C, Marboeuf C, Buckley, BJ, Clemens M J, Mudan S and Pyronnet S. (2017) Implication of 4E-BP1 protein dephosphorylation and accumulation in pancreatic cancer cell death induced by combined gemcitabine and TRAIL. Cell Death and Disease. 2;8 (12):3204. * Corresponding author

3. Selvarajah, J, Elia, A., Carroll, V. and Moumen A (2014) DNA damage-induced S and G2/M cell cycle arrest requires mTORC2-dependent regulation of Chk1. Oncotarget 1;6(1):427-40.

4. Elia A, Powley I R, MacFarlane M and Clemens M J. (2014) Modulation of the Sensitivity of Jurkat T-cells to Inhibition of Protein Synthesis by Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha-related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL). Journal of Interferon and Cytokine Research 34(10):769-77.

5. Elia A, Lincoln L, Brunet L R and Hagemann T. (2013). Treatment with IMM-101 induces protective CD8+ T cell responses in clinically relevant models of pancreatic cancer. Journal of Immunotherapy of Cancer 1(Suppl 1): P215.

6. Elia A, Mapes J, Knorpp T, Schmolz M, Garcia E, Hagemann T, Brunet L R. (2013). A role for immunotherapy: preventing macrophage anergy in the tumour environment. Journal of Immunotherapy of Cancer 1(Suppl 1): P185.

7. Clemens MJ, Elia A*, Morley SJ. (2013) Requirement for the eIF4E binding proteins for the synergistic down-regulation of protein synthesis by hypertonic conditions and mTOR inhibition. PLoS One. 2013 Aug 5; 8 (8): e71138. * Corresponding author

8. Rice S, Elia A, Jawad, Z, Pellatt L and Mason H D. (2013) Metformin inhibits follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) action in human granulosa cells: relevance to polycystic ovary syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Sep; 98(9): E1491-500.

9. Chakravarthy R, Clemens M J, Pirianov G, Perdios N, Mudan S, Cartwright J E, and Elia A* (2013) Role of the eIF4E Binding Protein 4E-BP1 in Regulation of the Sensitivity of Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells to TRAIL and Celastrol-Induced Apoptosis. Biology of the Cell Sep; 105(9):414-29. * Corresponding author

10. Tzartos, J.S, Khan, G, Vossenkamper, Meager, A, Sefia, E, Elia, A, Middeldorp, J.M, Clemens, M.J, Giovannoni, G and Meier, U-C. (2011). Innate immune activation is a hallmark of the active MS lesion. Neurology 78, (1) 15-23.

11. Cannell, I, Kong,Y, Johnston, S, Chen, M, Dobbyn, H, Collins, H, Elia A, Kress, T, Dickens, M, Clemens, M, Heery, D, Eilers, M, Willis, A, Bushell, M. (2010). p38 MAPK/MK2-mediated induction of miR-34c following DNA damage prevents Myc-dependent DNA replication. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 107(12):5375-80.

12. Bommer, UA, Heng, C, Perrin, A, Dash, P, Lobov, S, Elia A, Clemens, MJ. (2010). Roles of the translationally controlled tumour protein, (TCTP), and the double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase, PKR, in cellular stress responses. Oncogene Nov 9. [Epub 2009] Feb 4; 29 (5):763-73.

13. Wang, X., Fonseca, B.D., Tang, H., Liu, R., Elia, A, Clemens, M.J., Bommer U-A, Proud, C.G. (2008) Re-evaluating the roles of proposed modulators of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling J Biol Chem. Nov 7; 283 (45):30482-92.

14. Elia, A., Constantinou,C. and Clemens,M.J. (2008) Effects of protein phosphorylation on ubiquitination and stability of the translational inhibitor protein 4E-BP1. Oncogene 27, 811-822.

15. Constantinou,C., Elia, A. and Clemens,M.J. (2008) Activation of p53 stimulates proteasome-dependent truncation of eIF4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1). Biology of the Cell 100, 279-289.

16. Clemens,M.J, Elia, A. and Constantinou,C. (2007) Control of protein synthesis in malignant transformation - role of eIF4E and the eIF4E binding proteins in the regulation of apoptosis. Current Cancer Therapy Reviews 3, 151-163.

17. Jeffrey,I.W., Elia, A., Bornes, S., Tilleray, V.J., Gengatharan, K., Clemens, M.J. (2006) Interferon-alpha induces sensitization of cells to inhibition of protein synthesis by tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand. FEBS J. 16, 3698-3708.

18. Elia, A., Vyas, J., Laing, KG., Clemens, M.J, (2004). Ribosomal protein L22 inhibits regulation of cellular activities by the Epstein-Barr virus small RNA EBER-1. Eur. J. Biochem. 271, 1895-1905.

19. Vyas, J., Elia, A., Clemens, M.J., (2003). Inhibition of the protein kinase PKR by the internal ribosomal entry site of hepatitis C virus genomic RNA. RNA 9, 858-870.

20. Laing, K.G., Elia, A., Jeffrey, I.W., Matys, V., Tilleray, V.J., Souberbielle, B. and Clemens, M.J. (2002) In vivo effects of the Epstein-Barr virus small RNA EBER-1 on protein synthesis and cell growth regulation. Virology 297, 253-269.

21. Elia, A., Laing, K.G., Schofield. A., and Clemens, M.J., (1996). Regulation of the dsRNA-dependent protein kinase PKR by RNAs encoded by a repeated sequence in the Epstein-Barr virus genome, Nucleic Acids Res. 42, 4471-4478.

22. Elia, A., Schofield, A., and Clemens, M.J., (1994). Interaction of the dsRNA-dependent protein kinase PKR with the Epstein-Barr virus W RNAs. Biochemical Society Transactions 23, 313s.

Review/Commentary Articles

1. Elia A, Brunet L R and Hagemann T. (2013). William Coley’s legacy - the development of modern mycobacteria-based therapies for cancer. Trends in Cancer Research, 9, 109-113.

2. Clemens M, Coldwell M and Elia A (2012) EIF4EBP1 (Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1). Atlas Genet Cytogenet Oncol Haematol. Review 16(8):540-544.

3. Clemens,M.J, Elia, A. and Constantinou,C. (2007) Control of protein synthesis in malignant transformation - role of eIF4E and the eIF4E binding proteins in the regulation of apoptosis. Current Cancer Therapy Reviews 3, 151-163.

4. Clemens, M.J., and Elia, A., (1997). The double-stranded-RNA-dependent protein kinase PKR: structure and function. J. Interferon Cytokine Res. 17, 503-524.

5. Clemens, M., Laing, KG., Jeffrey, IW., Schofield, A., Sharp, TV., Elia, A., Matys, V., James, MC., Tilleray, VJ., (1994). Regulation of the interferon inducible eIF2a protein kinase PKR by small RNAs. Biochimie 76, 770-778.

Book Chapters

1. Clemens M J, Elia A and Morley S J. (2015) Regulation and dysregulation of protein synthesis in cancer cells. Systems Biology of Cancer, ed. S. Thiagalingam. Published by Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511979811.007

2. Laing, K.G., Elia, A., Jeffrey, I.W. and Clemens, M.J. (2001) Analysis of RNA-protein interactions of the EBV-encoded small RNAs, the EBERs. In vitro assays. Methods in Molecular Biology. Epstein - Barr virus Protocols (ed. J.B. Wilson and G.H.W. May) 174, 297-310. Humana Press ISBN 978-0-89603-690-1

Dr Elia currently supervises PhD candidate Jack Lawrence. She was recently supported in her research by a research assistant Ella Rimmer. The group hosts undergraduate and postgraduate students on a regular basis. 

Collaborators

Dr Francesc Miralles, Molecular and Cell Sciences Research Institute, St. George's, University of London, UK

Dr Stephane Pyronnet, Cancer Research Centre in Toulouse, France

Prof Michael Clemens, Molecular and Cell Sciences Research Institute, St. George's, University of London, UK

Dr Satvinder Mudan St George's Hospital, University of London, UK

Dr Elia is a lecturer in Biomedical Sciences. She participates in a diversity of activities directed at Biomedical Science students:

• She is the lead for the Biology of Cancer module, directed at 3^rd Year Intercalated and Biomedical Science students studying on the Cell and Molecular Biology Pathway
• She is co-lead for the Structured Research Projects directed at 3^rd Year Intercalated and Biomedical Science students studying on the Clinical Bioscience Pathway
• She leads on embedding careers and employability education into the the Biomedical Science curriculum across all year groups
• She co-leads the Professional Training Year on the Biomedical Science programme
• She delivers lectures, practical sessions and tutorials in several 2^nd and 3^rd year modules
• She moderates small group tutorials for 2^nd year Biomedical Science students
• She is involved in curriculum development, assessment, feedback and marking
• She is personal tutor for Biomedical Science and MBBS students;
• She supervises undergraduate and post graduate research project students