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Jessica Nelson is a Lecturer and Principal Investigator at the University of Southampton in the School of Biological Sciences. She leads the Nelson Lab, which focuses on understanding the interplay between tissue regeneration and cancer stem cells (CSCs). Her research particularly investigates how CSCs hijack wound-healing mechanisms to drive the initiation and progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Her work examines the role of secreted factors mediating communication between CSCs and their microenvironment, as well as the regenerative pathways that are exploited to promote tumor development. By combining advanced organoid models of pancreatic regeneration with transcriptomic, proteomic, and functional approaches, the lab aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms linking tissue repair and cancer, ultimately identifying new biomarkers and therapeutic strategies for PDAC. Jessica was appointed at Southampton in September 2025, and her lab is based in Building 85 on the Highfield Campus.