Dr Helen Pearson

1/9/2018

Cancer Research & Genetics UK are donating £10,000 to purchase equipment for Dr Helen Pearsons Research into prostate cancer genetics and treatments at Cardiff Universitiy European Cancer Stem Cell Research.

New research has uncovered insights into the mechanisms that underlie prostate cancer, providing potential targets for new cancer therapies. There is more information online here and you can watch a video of Dr Helen Pearson explaining the research here.

Our donation will help support the University’s research into understanding how genetic alterations contribute to prostate cancer growth and will gain further insight into how prostate cancer develops resistance to current treatments. This contribution will enable the University to purchase an essential piece of equipment to rapidly and efficiently homogenise prostate tissue samples, which is necessary for isolating genomic material for analysis. Once isolated, we can measure if genes are up regulated or down regulated in response to a genetic alteration or treatment. By identifying changes in the genome of prostate tumours, we hope to discover new therapeutic strategies and biomarkers that will ultimately improve our management of patients with prostate cancer.

 

University of Glasgow

6/6/2018

Cancer Research & Genetics UK are donating £10,000 to Glasgow University in Scotland to buy a Luminescence Plate Reader – for the Institute of Cancer Sciences department. Dr Fiona Thomson has provided some information about this equipment and how the donation will help:

“Our research aims to develop novel anti-cancer agents through clinical trials in patients and this donation will help support our efforts to develop better cancer treatments. Specifically, the funds will contribute towards the purchase of a piece of equipment, called a luminescence plate reader, that will be used to help measure the effectiveness of novel drugs which are being testing in pancreatic cancer patients. We are hoping that this new drug, when used alongside chemotherapy and radiotherapy, will improve the care and treatment of pancreatic cancer patients.”

 

X-CLARITY Tissue Clearing system

1/6/2018

Cancer Research & Genetics UK have donated £10,000 to purchase Imaging equipment in the X- Clarity Tissue Clearing System at Cardiff University. The research is led by Professor Matt Smalley at the European Cancer Stem Cell Research based at the University.

X-CLARITY Tissue Clearing system. Revealing tumour composition, architecture and underlying mechanisms in 3D

Tumours are heterogeneous complex environments composed of multiple cell types and matrix proteins. How cells interact and organize within a tumour often hint at the underlying biology that governs tumour development and malignancy. Equally, by monitoring expression levels, activity or localisation of specific proteins within cells also informs on mechanisms and may identify new therapeutic targets. Traditionally, we have relied on immunofluorescence methods to label cells within slices of fixed tissue and then retrospectively build 3D maps of the tissue using specialised confocal microscopy and image analysis tools. This traditional approach requires specialised training and expertise, and is also time consuming.

Recent advances in tissue imaging have led to the development of the CLARITY method (Clear Lipid-exchanged Acrylamide-hybridised Rigid Imaging/Immunostaining/In situ-hybridisation-compatible Tissue-hYdrogel). This method clears or removes masking lipids from whole tissues to make them transparent, exposing the remaining protein and DNA in cells. Because the tissue is fixed in a hydrogel scaffold, this method allows us to examine proteins and therefore cellular structures within preserved 3D tissue architecture. We propose to purchase the X-CLARITY tissue clearing system from Labtech. This equipment provides an all-in-one automated, rapid and efficient tissue clearing protocol, without exposing the user to toxic chemicals or extended incubation steps. Therefore, the protocol is standardised, which saves time and increases robustness. The stained tissue is then imaged in a specialised microscope called a Light sheet (Selective Plane Illumination Microscopy; SPIM, in house at the School of Biosciences). Light sheet microscopy is a time efficient way to rapidly image 3D systems. Together, this approach will allow us to build 3D maps of increasing complexity that reflect the subcellular and cellular networks of a tumour. The CLARITY method can be applied to any solid tumour, including pancreas, breast, brain and bone. This will give us a better understanding of the biology underlying tumour development and help us to identify rare metastatic lesions in secondary organs.

 

Department of Molecular and Clinical and Cancer Medicine

28/9/17

Cancer Research & Genetics Uk have donated £10,000 to purchase equipment for Proffesors Andrew Pettit and Sarah Coupland and Mark Boyds research at Liverpool University. The Researches are based in the Universities Department of Molecular and Clinical and Cancer Medicine which specialises in Blood, Eyes and Head and Neck Cancers respectively.

The Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine provides a vibrant home to approximately 200 staff including 30 principle investigators who collectively lead a comprehensive programme of basic, translational and clinical cancer research. Clinical focus areas include pancreas cancer, ocular oncology, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, hepatobiliary cancer, haematological oncology, urological cancer and breast cancer while areas of particular scientific strength include DNA repair, p53 biology and tumour microenvironment.

 

Prostate Oncobiology

1/9/17

Cancer Research Genetics UK are donating £10,000 to Dr Esther Baena and her research into Prostate Oncobiology at Manchester University. The University is linked closely to Christie Hospital Manchester.

The goal of the Prostate Oncobiology group is to advance our understanding of cancer signalling pathways and to identify tumour-initiating cells. A central challenge in cancer research is the identification of cancer patients whose disease will eventually progress to the lethal stage. Due to the cytogenetic complexity of epithelial cancers, little is known about their origins and the steps required for progression from local to advanced disease.

The donation will enable them to purchase cancer genetic research eguipment. The machine will sort through the tissue samples they get from the hospital much faster than can be done by a human. This will mean they get more cells, of better quality and greater viability for growing in the lab – all aimed at ultimately genetically identifying those patients whose prostate cancer is showing most worry genetic traits of growing really quickly.

Manchester University is linked to the Christie Hospital Manchester which is Europes largest single site cancer centre.

 

IMARIS Imaging System

30/6/17

Cancer Research Genetics UK have donated £10,000 to purchase equipment for Prof. Awen Gallimore’s lab. to conduct research into cancer immunology at Cardiff University.

The donation will be used to fund an image analysis station for the research team which will allow the researchers to perform far better analysis of cancer sections stained by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. A station comprises a package of image analysis software and a high spec computer to run it on.

IMARIS Imaging System – Identifying Bottlenecks to Successful Immunotherapy

Recent advances indicate that it is possible to use the power of the immune system to fight cancer. Whilst there have been notable successes in the treatment of melanoma there remain significant bottlenecks to success in other cancers. This may be due to the nature of the environment in which the cancer is growing. In the case of some cancers, the nature of the environment is such that it allows immune cells to enter unimpeded whilst in other cases, components of the cancer environment prevent effective entry of immune cells. This is a significant problem as if the immune cells cannot enter a cancer, they will fail to kill it.

One key objective of our research is to identify components of the environment that allow or prevent entry of immune cells. To achieve this, we analyse sections of tumour cells in detail using fluorescently- or chemically-labelled tags that allow us to formulate a map of the cancer environment which takes into account 1) the cancer cells, 2) other cell types present which render cancer cells more or less aggressive, 3) cells of the immune system and 4) blood vessels. Visualisation of the component parts is carried out using microscopy and images are recorded for further analysis. The IMARIS software system will significantly improve our ability to perform in-depth analysis of these stained tissues. It will allow us to trace individual cells as well as examine their spatial and functional relationships with other cells. The software is also quantitative and will allow us to determine the frequencies of particular cell types or e.g. the size of tumour blood vessels. Moreover, we will be able to perform this type of analysis using thick pieces of tissues thereby improving significantly on the quality and quantity of information to be gained.

The overall objective of this work is to identify pathways which can be targeted by pharmacological and/or biological therapies and which can be used to maximise the power of the immune system for killing cancer.

More information about Awen’s work in cancer immunology can be found online here – http://cancerimmunology.co.uk/

 

Prof. Ros Eeles

1/1/17

Cancer Research Genetics UK have donated £10,000 to Professor Ros Eeles Prostate Cancer Genetic Research at the Institute of Cancer Research in London.

Professor Ros Eeles is a leader in prostate cancer genetics at the ICR. She is a scientist as well as a clinician and is looking into new types of testing procedures for early stage prostate cancer.

 

European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute

1/1/17

Cancer Research Genetics UK have donated £10,000 to Dr Mathew Smalley at Cardiff University and European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute for new equipment.

The ECSCRI team will purchase equipment for the Marcia Phillips Tissue Culture Suite which will allow them to perform low oxygen cell cultures. Low oxygen levels are often found at the centre of solid tumours, and cancer cells (and normal cells) behave very differently in these conditions. The incubator will allow researchers to mimic these conditions within tumours to determine cancer stem cell behaviour and responses to therapies. In addition they will also purchase a “GentleMACS Disruptor” which allows for automated separation of solid tumour samples into their individual cancer cells without harming the cells in the process.

More research news from Cardiff University.

 

Prostate Cancer Genetic Research

22/5/16

Cancer Research Genetics UK have donated £10,000 to Professor Ros Eeles Prostate Cancer Genetic Research at the Institute of Cancer Research in London.

Professor Ros Eeles is a leader in prostate cancer genetics at the ICR. She is a scientist as well as a clinician and has discovered 85 of the known 112 common variants associated with prostate cancer predisposition.

She is also is looking into young onset prostate cancer. She has a collection UK-wide of 10,000 young onset prostate cancer case samples (diagnosed at 60 years or less). She is looking to identify genetic alterations which are particularly found in young onset disease to enable ICR to use these in targeted screening and treatment trials.

To learn more visit the IRC Facebook page – click here.

 

Prof. Alan Clark

1/12/15

Cancer Research Genetics UK have donated £10,000 to Prof Alan Clark‘s cancer stem cell research at Cardiff University.

To see more information on Prof Clark’s work – click here.

Professor Clarke’s main interest is in the molecular basis of cancer, particularly in the very early stages when cells initially diverge from normality.

Professor Clarke’s group will work with the Research Institute on the genetic origins of cancer stem cells, and the susceptibility of these cells to existing and new therapies.

 

Dr Marco Gerlinger

20/11/15

Cancer Research Genetics UK have donated £10,000 to Dr Marco Gerlinger’s research. His work involves developing novel strategies to overcome drug resistance in advanced Bowel cancer. He is based at the Institute of Cancer Research London which is linked to the Royal Marsden Hospital.

To see more information on Dr Gerlinger’s work – click here.

He is developing novel strategies to overcome drug resistance in advanced bowel cancer.

 

ICR

24/3/15

Cancer Research and Genetics UK have just donated £10,000 to The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) to help with Professor Richard Houlston’s work in cancer genetics.

The ICR is in London and it has working links for cancer genetic research with the Royal Marsden Hospital, London.

The ICR has some of the world’s leading scientists identifying the genes that predispose us to cancer.

www.icr.ac.uk

To read more about the centre’s work click here.

 

Prof. Philip Rudland

17/11/14


We have donated £10,000 to the work of Professor Philip Rudland at Liverpool University who is looking at the identification of genetic changes that promote the spread of cancer in the body.

Aim of Project
We need to know why these metastasis-inducing genes are preferentially turned on in some patients contributing to their early death, but not in others enabling them to survive much longer.

To read the full application please click here.

The University of Liverpool would like to thank Cancer Research Genetics UK for supporting their work on cancer research.

European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute

5/11/14

Cancer Research Genetic’s have made a donation of £10,000 to the work of Professor Alan Clark and the European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, based at Cardiff University.

Professor Clark feels that this money would bring significant benefit to ECSCRI and the research that is undertaken therein. At the moment the Institute is looking to purchase the following hi-tec equipment:

  • Fluorescence unit and camera/PC upgrade for the Olympus microscope, this would bring all 3 within the institute up to the same standard (Alan is awaiting a formal quotation but expects the cost of it to be approx. £10,000-£12,000)
  • Sartorius NC-3000 High spec. automated cell counter at £26,500 or (lower spec) NC-200 at £10,500 (currently there is only a basic counter in the Marcia Phillips Tissue Culture Lab).

 

Recycle Proline LTD

1/1/11

Cancer Research and Genetics UK are working in collaboration with Recycle Proline LTD a company based in Liverpool who are donating funds regularly to the charity which is directed into Cancer Research & Genetics UK and to the charities objectives and aims.