Anneliese Dodds, MP for Oxford East & Chair of the Labour Party, visited the Cancer Research UK Oxford Centre at the University of Oxford on the 26 November 2021 to tour the labs and buildings where cutting-edge cancer research is being undertaken, to drive patient-focused solutions to cancer challenges.
Anneliese engaged with researchers from across Oxford’s key cancer themes: the areas where Oxford academics are making the biggest impact through major scientific developments.
The visit formed part of a Cancer Research UK campaign to engage MPs in the important and impactful cancer research happening in cancer centres across the UK.
During Anneliese’s visit, she viewed demonstrations from across a range of scientific disciplines, beginning with a talk from our Early Detection theme. Anneliese met with Chunxiao Song at the Target Delivery Institute, whose TAPS technology is a major advancement in the field of early detection through simple and cheap blood-based testing.
 Anneliese talking with Chunxiao Song, who works on TAPS: an early detection of cancer technology that uses blood-based testing |
 Anneliese viewing cancer big data information presented by Eva Morris, Jens Rittscher and Sharib Ali |
Anneliese went on to meet with theme leaders from our Cancer Big Data activity happening at the Big Data Institute. They discussed the important work happening through the use of electronic health records to identify and address health inequalities and improve the health care system. Followed by a demonstration of the work using AI to detect cancer in novel way, such as its applications in identifying oesophageal cancer through endoscopy videos.
 Anneliese viewing work at the IBME with Laura Spiers and Tamsyn Clarke - who are working on improving cancer drug delivery through the physical sciences |
 Anneliese talking with clinical researcher Sarah Blagden about the scope of cancer clinical trials happening in Oxford |
The tour also touched on the vital work of the physical sciences, such as researchers from the PanDox trial at the Institute for Biomedical Engineering who are applying novel engineering approaches to improve the delivery of drugs in a more targeted way. Before ending on the clinical applications of all this work which are being delivered through the important clinical trials units at the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which are dedicated to testing new and improved treatments for cancer.
It was fantastic to see the diversity of disciplines here in Oxford that are contributing to ongoing improvements in cancer patient care. There are some cutting-edge projects happening that will ultimately benefit many through cancer early detection, diagnosis and treatment.
This tour has underlined that Oxford and the wider UK can be a science superpower. To do this the UK Government must invest in the thriving life sciences sector, in order to deliver on its commitments to those affected by cancer. - Anneliese Dodds, MP for Oxford East & Chair of the Labour Party