The latest news, stories and exciting findings from across the Oxford cancer research community
The Nuffield Department of Medicine announces new research partnership with the University of Navarra
1 December 2022
The partnership will aim to apply new immunotherapy techniques to cancer patients. It will also aim to enhance scientific outcomes in both institutions, sharing strategic initiatives and supporting clinical trials.
Researchers make miniature ‘bone marrows in a dish’ to improve anti-cancer treatments
25 November 2022
Scientists from the University of Oxford's MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine and the University of Birmingham have made the first bone marrow ‘organoids’ that include all the key components of human marrow. This technology allows for the screening of multiple anti-cancer drugs at the same time, as well as testing personalised treatments for individual cancer patients.
Nuffield Department of Medicine receives funding to improve bowel cancer treatment
23 November 2022
The Leedham Lab in the Nuffield Department of Medicine (NDM) has been awarded over £2M from Cancer Research UK to develop a new tool that could help guide how bowel cancer patients are treated in the future.
Dr Brian Nicholson reacts to news that GPs in England will have direct access to book cancer tests for their patients
21 November 2022
This initiative, announced by the NHS England Chief Executive, is part of the drive to diagnose cancers earlier in the NHS by “fast-tracking” community-based diagnostic testing.
Tackling under-representation of Black data scientists in cancer research
16 November 2022
Over the summer, the Cancer Research UK Oxford Centre hosted Biochemistry Student - Anastacia Mozie - as part of Health Data Research UK's Black Internship Programme. Read about Anastacia's time with the centre on the Cancer Research UK website.
Assessing a combined approach for risk-stratified population screening for colorectal cancer
10 November 2022
Polygenic risk scores only modestly improve the predictive power of the QCancer-10 non-genetic risk score for colorectal cancer.
Profiling the entire cancer genome identifies new subgroups of blood cancer that can be used to predict likely clinical outcomes
4 November 2022
The University of Oxford has led the largest and most comprehensive analysis of the entire genomic landscape of the commonest type of blood cancer called chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) as part of the UK’s 100,000 Genomes Project
Pancreatic cancer could be diagnosed up to three years earlier
3 November 2022
Pancreatic cancer could be identified in patients up to three years earlier than current diagnoses, new research suggests. Weight loss and increasing blood glucose levels are early indicators of pancreatic cancer and could lead to a more timely diagnosis, helping to improve survival rates.
Dr Lennard Lee recognised as one of the world's 21 outstanding young physicians below the age of 40
19 October 2022
Dr Lennard Lee, academic clinical lecturer at the Department of Oncology was recognised as part of the InterAcademy Partnership Young Physician Leaders Programme 2022
Funding boost for Oxford’s cancer research in the NIHR Oxford BRC
14 October 2022
The NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), a partnership between the University of Oxford and Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust, will receive £86.6m over the next five years to fund 15 research themes.
Oxford’s KJ Patel appointed Cancer Research UK Chief Scientist
12 October 2022
Professor KJ Patel, Director of the MRC Weatherall Institute for Molecular Medicine and the MRC Molecular Haematology Unit at the University of Oxford, will provide scientific leadership to Cancer Research UK.
Oxford spinout Optellum secures $14m funding to advance pioneering AI-powered lung cancer diagnosis technology
6 October 2022
Optellum, a University of Oxford spinout that provides a breakthrough AI platform to diagnose and treat early-stage lung cancer, has raised $14 million in a Series A funding round.
Introducing minimum tumour-free margins in breast cancer surgery may reduce recurrence and improve survival
5 October 2022
A study co-authored by Dr David Dodwell has recommended that surgeons should aim to remove a 1mm wide margin of healthy tissue around a breast tumour to try to reduce the risk of cancer returning and improve breast cancer survival rates worldwide.
DPhil in Cancer Science: A statistician's perspective
3 October 2022
In this blog, current student Tara gives us an insight into her experience as a mathematician on our DPhil in Cancer Science programme
Funding to research metformin’s ability to delay or prevent cancers driven by the mutated TP53 gene
29 September 2022
A research project embedded within the Metformin in Li Fraumeni (MILI) trial will investigate metformin’s mechanism of action when taken as a preventative for mTP53-driven cancers.
Cancer at Oxford
29 September 2022
Read about how Oxford's experts are leading the way in cancer prevention, detection and treatment as part of the University's Cancer at Oxford series
Unique Clinical Imaging Dataset Released for Artificial Intelligence Research to Accelerate Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer
23 September 2022
The National Cancer Imaging Translational Accelerator (NCITA) in partnership with the ReIMAGINE Consortium have announced the release of a unique clinical imaging dataset from the Prostate MRI Imaging Study (PROMIS)).
Researchers describe how cancer cells can defend themselves from the consequences of certain genetic defects
20 September 2022
Swietach Group scientists have identified a rescue mechanism that allows cancers to overcome the consequences of inactivating mutations in critically important genes
CRUK funding to investigate the molecular drivers of stomach cancer
8 September 2022
Dr Francesco Boccellato wins a CRUK Early Detection and Diagnosis primer award to study tissue shape changes in the pre-cancerous stomach conditions, atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia
DPhil in Cancer Science: A medical student's perspective
23 August 2022
In this blog, current MB-DPhil student Holly shares her experience of intercalating a DPhil within her medical undergraduate qualification