Professor James´s research focuses on cancer, particularly oesophageal and breast cancer, and aims at using proteomics as a means to rapid and unquestionable diagnosis of tumor origin, characterization and prognosis. As most chemotherapies work as kinase inhibitors, detection of phosphorylation events are fundamental, and since phosphorylation sites change quickly, preservation of the tissue biopsy is critical. DNA repair enzymes and apoptosis factors are also quickly degraded and it is crucial to understand the true state of the protein composition of the sample. In conditions as Barrett’s disease, several biopsies are taken from the patient; hence the time from sampling to preservation for the various samples may vary, which is why the ideal scenario is immediate stabilization in the operating theatre.