Institute of Cancer Research Confidence in Concept (ICR CiC 2017)
Lead Research Organisation:
Institute of Cancer Research
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
The Confidence in Concept scheme is a key part of MRC’s translational research strategy and provides annual awards to institutions, to be used flexibly to support the earliest stages of multiple translational research projects. The award can be used by the institution to support a number of preliminary-stage translational projects. The projects supported should aim to provide sufficient preliminary data to establish the viability of an approach –– before seeking more substantive funding. It is intended to accelerate the transition from discovery research to translational development projects by supporting preliminary work or feasibility studies to establish the viability of an approach.
People |
ORCID iD |
Publications
Wilkins A
(2021)
Differential and longitudinal immune gene patterns associated with reprogrammed microenvironment and viral mimicry in response to neoadjuvant radiotherapy in rectal cancer.
in Journal for immunotherapy of cancer
| Description | Chair of ESMO 2019 Multidisciplinary session: Is Randomisation of Clinical Trials still the Gold Standard? (ID 31) |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| URL | https://cslide.ctimeetingtech.com/esmo2019/attendee/confcal/session/calendar/2019-09-28 |
| Description | Deconstructing the sarcoma matrisome for drug target and biomarker discovery |
| Amount | £120,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | SUK02.2018 |
| Organisation | Sarcoma UK |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2019 |
| End | 04/2022 |
| Description | Have received further funding from MC_PC_17163 following successful development of chemical matter. The products are currently been evaluated and an application for further funding from the MRC DPFS scheme is sought |
| Amount | £93,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | Improving neoadjuvant therapy in high-risk sarcomas. |
| Amount | £1,506,783 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 29363 |
| Organisation | Cancer Research UK |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2020 |
| End | 02/2025 |
| Description | Prospective evaluation of KARSARC - a gene expression-based risk classifier for patients with soft tissue sarcomas treated with pazopanib |
| Amount | £148,454 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Sarcoma UK |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2023 |
| End | 03/2027 |
| Description | TRANS-CASPS - Translational studies in the Cediranib in Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma (CASPS) trial |
| Amount | £120,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | SUK03.2019 |
| Organisation | Sarcoma UK |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2020 |
| End | 03/2024 |
| Title | Immunotranscriptomics for Radiotherapy Treated Rectal Cancer Patients |
| Description | We developed new pipelines of bioinformatics methods using transcriptomic data from rectal cancer samples collected before and after radiotherapy. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This tool helped us to identify immune changes before and after radiotherapy treatment in rectal cancer samples. |
| Title | Rectal cancer retrospective patient samples |
| Description | Retrospective rectal cancer patient samples from University of Leeds collaboration (Collaborator - Dr. Nick West) |
| Type Of Material | Biological samples |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | These samples helped us to understand the change in immune profiles between pre and post radiotherapy. |
| Title | Spatial profling |
| Description | Vectra based multiplex immunohistochemistry. This method was developed by Prof. Alan Melcher at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR). |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | It helps in identifying different populations of immune cells in situ in patient samples. |
| Description | Currently developing folate receptor targeted anticancer drugs and are collaborating the CRUK Cancer Therapeutics Unit |
| Organisation | Institute of Cancer Research UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Currently developing folate receptor targeted anticancer drugs. Unsuccessful application to MRC-DPFS scheme. Currently pursuing collaboration with pharmaceutical companies. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Generated pilot data for future funding applications. |
| Impact | Currently in development |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Genentech - PIM1 inhibitors |
| Organisation | Genentech, Inc |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | On-going collaboration with Genentech to test 2 lead compound PIM1 inhibitors developed by them in triple-negative breast cancer models and using combinations of AKTi and chemotherapy with the PIM1 inhibitors. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Genentech provided stocks of 2 inhibitors |
| Impact | None as yet as initial testing is being carried out in vitro |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Inflection Biosciences - PIM1 inhibitors |
| Organisation | Inflection Biosciences |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Testing of Inflection Biosciences IBL-100 series of PIM1 inhibitors in vitro |
| Collaborator Contribution | Providing inhibitors for in vitro testing |
| Impact | - Collaborations with Prof. Chris Lord, ICR for the successful ICR MRC CiC grant "Investigating PIM1 kinase inhibition as a combination strategy to sensitise basal-like and BRCA1 mutation associated Triple Negative Breast Cancer to therapy induced cell death and impair emergence of resistance" Awarded Sept 2018 for 1 year £83,500. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Neoadjuvant radiotherapy treated retrospective rectal cancer patient samples |
| Organisation | University of Leeds |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Our contribution includes transcriptomics, bioinformatics and NanoString profiling along with the funding opportunity through MRC CiC. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partner provided retrospective and matched neoadjuvant radiotherapy treated rectal cancer patients samples before and after treatment with pathology information to provided responders and non-responders. |
| Impact | Multidisciplinary collaboration involving clinical studies, bioinformatics and experimental biology. Poster presentation at THE 2ND CRICK INTERNATIONAL CANCER CONFERENCE, London in Sep 2019 - Title: Identification of novel immune targets in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) to improve response to chemo-radiation. ICRR 2019 Manchester, UK - Title: Radiotherapy/Immunotherapy combinations - the translational opportunities'? |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Novartis PIM1 inhibitors |
| Organisation | Novartis |
| Department | Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | On-going collaboration with Novarits around use of PIM1 inhibitors (lead candidate PIM447) in triple-negative breast cancer |
| Collaborator Contribution | Novartis provided stocks of PIM447 for in vitro testing |
| Impact | - Collaborations with Prof. Chris Lord, ICR for the successful ICR MRC CiC grant "Investigating PIM1 kinase inhibition as a combination strategy to sensitise basal-like and BRCA1 mutation associated Triple Negative Breast Cancer to therapy induced cell death and impair emergence of resistance" Awarded Sept 2018 for 1 year £83,500. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | PIM1 as a synthetic lethal target for E-Cadherin loss-of-function from screen done in Bajrami et al (PMID: 29610289) |
| Organisation | Institute of Cancer Research UK |
| Department | Division of Breast Cancer Research |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | - PIM1 as a synthetic lethal target for E-Cadherin loss-of-function from screen done in Bajrami et al (PMID: 29610289). Following up on PIMi combination drug screen hits relevant to this collaboration i.e. Crizotinib |
| Collaborator Contribution | - PIM1 as a synthetic lethal target for E-Cadherin loss-of-function from screen done in Bajrami et al (PMID: 29610289) - developing preliminary data for future grant writing |
| Impact | - PIM1 as a synthetic lethal target for E-Cadherin loss-of-function from screen done in Bajrami et al (PMID: 29610289) |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Title | MATERIALS AND METHODS FOR STRATIFYING AND TREATING CANCERS |
| Description | The present invention relates to materials and methods for stratifying and treating cancers and to methods of identifying/selecting patients for treatment of cancer with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Gene expression profiles, TP53 mutations and FGFR1 and PDGFRA expression are used to identify/select/stratify the cancers and patients. |
| IP Reference | EP3665307 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2020 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | We are in discussions for licensing of this invention with some companies |
| Title | Folic acid drug conjugate |
| Description | Synthesised folic acid conjugate with microtubule stabilizing agent. Not possible to further develop drug due to lack of efficacy. |
| Type | Therapeutic Intervention - Drug |
| Current Stage Of Development | Initial development |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2020 |
| Development Status | Closed |
| Impact | Scientific understanding related to linkers of folic acid within a folate drug conjugate. |
| Title | Bioinformatics tools for immunotranscriptome analysis |
| Description | This allows to identify differentially expressed immune genes between pre and post radiotherapy samples. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Open Source License? | Yes |
| Impact | This helped us to characterise immune profiles between pre and post radiotherapy samples. |
| Description | ASCO GI Poster presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | ASCO GI conference in San Francisco - Title - Characterisation of chemoradiation-induced changes in immune cells and targets for personalised therapy in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Presenter -Elisa Fontana (Clinical PhD student) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://ascopost.com/Meetings/?m=2019%20Gastrointestinal%20Cancers%20Symposium |
| Description | Breast Cancer Now Divisional Tours |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Supporters |
| Results and Impact | KD regularly takes part in tours of the BCN Division where she shows groups around the laboratory and present our research to a lay audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
| Description | Conference presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | ICRR 2019 Manchester, UK - Title: Radiotherapy/Immunotherapy combinations - the translational opportunities'? Presenter - Alan Melcher (Collaborator) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://icrr2019manchester.com/ |
| Description | ICR Open Evening for Sixth Form Students |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | KD participated in the ICR Open Evening for sixth form students to learn about our research and careers in science. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | NanoString Summit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | NanoString Summit - Presenter - Anguraj Sadanandam (PI) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.nanostring.com/company/events-archive/european-summit-London |
| Description | Poster presentation - 1 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | THE 2ND CRICK INTERNATIONAL CANCER CONFERENCE, London in Sep 2019 where researchers across different biology disciplines attended. Presented by Anna Wilkins (Clinical PhD student) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.crick.ac.uk/whats-on/the-2nd-crick-international-cancer-conference |
| Description | Poster presentation - 2 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 2 presentations - 3nd International Conference on Immunotherapy Radiotherapy Combinations, Paris, France - Characterisation of the immune response to short and long course neo-adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) in rectal tumours. Presenter - Anna Wilkins (Clinical PhD student) and Alan Melcher (Collaborator) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.anticancerfund.org/en/international-conference-immunotherapy-radiotherapy-combinations |
| Description | Presentation 2 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 14th Annual Biomarker Congress - Presenter - Anguraj Sadanandam (PI) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | School STEM Careers Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | KD spoke at a school STEM careers event for GCSE students |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |