What are the challenges we are tackling?

1. Expanding the immuno-oncology footprint

Immuno-oncology treatment can be curative, however there are significant numbers of patients for which they are ineffective. Understanding why treatments fail will allow us to better target them to individuals most likely to benefit, as well as developing new strategies for sensitising unresponsive patients.

To better comprehend the complexity of the tumour immune microenvironment, we are establishing a common phenotyping platform and shared data repository that widens access to technologies and data for researchers. By harmonising data across multiple organ-specific pathologies, we are paving the way for novel therapeutic strategies.

2. Minimising immuno-oncology toxicity 

All cancer treatments have toxic side-effects. Understanding and predicting immune-related adverse side-effects is essential to minimising the morbidity associated with immuno-oncology treatment. We are leveraging Oxford’s expertise in autoimmune conditions of the organs which are affected by immune-related adverse events (including gut, skin, joints and liver) to identify what triggers the unwanted consequences of immuno-oncology treatment, how we can predict responses, and novel approaches to prevent them.

3. Inducing tumour-specific immunity and preventing escape

Cancer cells can only thrive if they evade the immune response. Oxford Cancer seeks to bring researchers together to develop new ways of both preventing and reversing this ‘immune escape’. By promoting the analysis of pre- and early stage cancers, we aim to develop a comprehensive model for the origins of tumour evasion.

OUR SCIENTIFIC THEMES

Oxford has fundamental academic strength in four areas of science. Through multidisciplinary collaborations, expertise in these four areas are being applied to cancer research.