Claire Perks completed her PhD from the University of Bristol in 1995, in which she studied ‘The Role of the IGF axis in the Ovary’ in relation to fertility. She then continued these studies as a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at The Royal Veterinary College, University of London before joining The University of Bristol (UoB) as a Research Associate iin the Department of Surgery. Claire is currently an Associate Professor in Tumour Cell Biology and leads the IGF & Metabolic Endocrinology group in the Bristol Medical School based at Southmead Hospital. Claire's primary interests are in the role of the IGF axis in relation to chronic diseases, particularly cancer. The IGF axis has been conserved throughout evolution to mediate the effects of nutrition on growth and has been implicated in the epithelial cancers associated with a Western diet. Claire is particularly interested in studying the impact of disturbed metabolism on the IGF axis and how this may influence risk and progression of cancer.