Lee is an Associate professor (Biochemistry) and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in the Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology, co-leader of the Molecular Biosciences Research group in the Physical Activity And Life Sciences Centre at the University of Northampton and Honorary Fellow in the Department of Genetics and Genome Biology at the University of Leicester.

Lee completed an undergraduate degree at the University of Warwick and a PhD in cancer studies at the University of Birmingham. He did postdoctoral research at the Institute for Cancer Studies (Birmingham), the MRC toxicology unit (Leicester) and the Department of Genetics (Leicester) before working as a senior scientist for the cancer vaccine company, Scancell (Nottingham); Lee came to the University of Northampton as a Lecturer in 2013 and was Interim Head of Sport, Exercise and Life Sciences in 2017-2018 and has 3 years of University Board level experience. 

Lee’s research is focused on employing cellular and molecular genetic strategies to address how the host immune system responds to pathogens and cancer. The aim of this work is to increase our understanding of human health and disease and develop rational therapeutic approaches to harness the exquisite specificity and sensitivity of the immune system.

Key areas of research are:

• Copy number variation of immunity genes
• Tumour immunology and the development of cancer immunotherapy

Lee collaborates locally, nationally and internationally to advance his research agenda and has worked on Cancer Research UK, Medical Research Council and Wellcome Trust funded projects. He is a regular reviewer for a number of academic journals including Human Immunology, Blood, PLOSone and PLOS Genetics. He has published in high impact journals including Blood, American Journal of Human Genetics and the American Journal of Pathology and is an occasional reviewer for major funding bodies.

• Nermin Albalbeisi; Characterising the Role of the Calcium-dependent Citrullinating Enzyme Peptidyl Arginine Deiminase 2 in Ovarian Cancer (completed)
• Adam Gregory; The prevalence and persistence of antimicrobial resistance markers in anaerobic digestion plants.
• Amber Hameed; Characterisation of the lipooligosaccharide (LOS) biosynthesis gene clusters  in Campylobacter species. (Completed)
• Michael Naidoo; The role of Dystophin in Low grade glioma
• David Young; Evolutionary genetic dissection of Fc receptors for IgG antibodies.
• Guido Di Martino; Welfare issues in Italian heavy pig production. (Completed)
• Mett Smart;  Bacterial Growth within Endoscope Channels between Reprocessing and Use: a scientific approach
• Faz Sultana; Rapid Analysis of non-tubercular mycobacteria species (NTM) using PCR and End-Point analysis
• Lewis Waterfield; Response of Streptococcus pneumoniae to metal and oxidative stresses.
• Leanne Jones; Investigating a role for dystrophin in the tumourigenesis of head and neck cancer.
• Amanda Ash; Cell migration in the neuropathophysiology of Duchenne muscular dystrophy
• Saul Cuttell; Effects of different forms of eccentric exercise and cryotherapy on exercise induced muscle damage and the repeat bout effect
• Izzat Al- Rayahi;  Role of Properdin in Tumour Growth and Cell Recruitment (completed)
• Rafah-al-Zubeidi; Obesity as a modulator of tumour microenvironment and anti- tumour responses in a mouse model (completed)

Lee has led or currently leads the following Bioscience modules:

• SLS1008 Research Skills
• SLS1013 Biochemistry and Cell Biology 
• SLS1020 Genetics and Molecular Biology
• SLS1021 Fundamentals in Immunology (current)
• SLS2014 Techniques in Molecular Biology
• SLS2016 Biochemistry Processes of Life
• SLS2010 Health and Disease
• SLS3003 Immunology and Health (Current)
• SLSM012 Molecular Medicine (Current)