Department of Oncology

 

Clinical & Translational Research Themes in Oncology

Diagnostics and Experimental Therapeutics

Basic laboratory research into cellular, molecular and genomic biology of normal and cancerous cells provides information for discovery and development of novel diagnostic methods and therapeutic drug treatments for cancer patients.

Within the Department, this research theme includes:

  • Evaluation and development of targets identified through our basic laboratory research programmes. This work is carried out in collaboration with the University Departments of Chemistry and Structural Biology and the Cambridge Molecular Therapeutics programme (CMTP). The CMTP is an interdisciplinary initiative at the University of Cambridge, directed by Prof Ashok Venkitaraman (Department of Oncology) and Prof. Tom Blundell (Biochemistry).
  • The Department, in conjunction with the wider virtual Cambridge Cancer Centre will develop translational programmes in some common and also rarer epithelial malignancies. These activities will be conducted in collaboration with industrial partners and other relevant University Departments and Institutes.
  • Mechanisms of resistance and response of novel and existing therapies will be investigated by examining their use in patients with well defined clinical conditions.
  • The Phase 1 Trials Unit will focus on targets and pathways in which we have local expertise, with the aim of developing genomic, imaging, and Magnetic Resonance (MR) spectroscopy based assays. For further information about the clinical trials we conduct and an explanation of the different phases involved in clinical trials please click here.


Specific research projects within this thematic includes:

  • James Brenton - Functional Genomics of Ovarian Cancer Laboratory
  • Carlos Caldas - Breast Cancer Functional Genomics
  • Jason Carroll - Understanding Estrogen Receptor Function in Breast Cancer
  • Helena Earl - Clinical and Translational Research in Breast and Gynaecological Cancers With the Aim of Individualising Cancer Treatments for Patients
  • Paul Edwards - Chromosome Changes in Breast and Oesophageal Cancer
  • Rebecca Fitzgerald - Gastro-oesophageal Cancers; Understanding Pathogenesis of Barrett’s Oesophagus and Oesophageal Adenocarcinomas in Order to Improve Disease Management and Patient Care
  • Vincent Gnanapragasam - Translational Prostate Cancer Group
  • Tony Green - Haematopoietic Stem Cells and Leukaemia
  • John Griffiths - Cancer MRI and MRS; Metabolomics Magnetic Imaging and Spectroscopy
  • Raj Jena - Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Radiotherapy Treatment of CNS tumours
  • Duncan Jodrell - Pharmacology and Drug Development Group
  • Nitzan Rosenfeld - Molecular and Computational Diagnostics
  • Jacqueline Shields - Defining a Role for Lymphatics in the Developing Tumour Microenvironment
  • David Tuveson - Tumour Modelling and Experimental Medicine (Pancreatic Cancer)
  • Ashok Venkitaraman - Understanding Chromosomal Instability and Exploiting it for Cancer Therapy