Biomarker Development in Cancer- Bridging the Translational Gap
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen's University of Belfast
Department Name: Sch of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomed Sci
Abstract
Every cancer is different and standard treatments such as chemotherapy work better for some patients compared to others. The ability to match the right patient to the right treatment would enable cancer doctors to give patients the cancer drugs with the best chance of working. This idea is called 'personalised' or 'precision' oncology and will lead to tailored treatment plans for each patient. Pre-selection of patients will also benefit the pharmaceutical industry by increasing the chance of a successful clinical trial and subsequent cancer drug approval. For precision oncology to be realised in the clinical setting accurate tests, or biomarkers, are needed which can use the genetic features of a patient's tumour to assist in determining the optimal treatment strategy.
Historically, developing a cancer biomarker has been difficult. Despite thousands of potential tests only a select few have made it through to day-to-day use in hospitals; there are many reasons for this. Cancer biomarkers developed in a university setting may not produce reliable results when used in hospital laboratories. This could be due to inaccuracies in how they were designed or insufficient laboratory procedures to limit variation between batches of tests or different laboratories. Also, many biomarkers are developed using impractical technologies which are not used in hospital laboratories, do not provide clinically relevant results or are not produced or tested to a high enough standard to gain government approval for use. To overcome these issues collaboration between universities, hospitals and the biotechnology industry is needed. More importantly, there are very few cancer physicians with the knowledge and skills required to design these tests and work in all of these settings. This proposal seeks to break down these barriers and develop a new, collaborative approach to cancer biomarker development.
By becoming a UKRI Innovation Scholar, Dr Turkington will gain essential skills in the design and development of cancer biomarkers. During his secondment at Almac Diagnostic Services (ADS) he will learn how to manage cancer biomarker tests as part of clinical trials. He will gain experience of a high-level commercial environment as well as essential skills in management and leadership. This knowledge will be transferred back to Queen's University Belfast (QUB) and used to progress research biomarkers, design new cancer treatment strategies and influence the wider research culture. Dr Turkington will also be integral to the design of new cancer biomarkers and clinical trials, which will be tested through UKRI and UK government funded regional cancer trial programmes.
Northern Ireland already has a strong health innovation environment with the presence of QUB, five research-active Healthcare Trusts and multiple biotechnology companies, including ADS, who specialise in clinical biomarker development and delivery. Over several years QUB has positioned itself as a leader in precision oncology through investments such as the Precision Medicine Centre of Excellence (PMC) and NI Biobank. The PMC is supported by the UKRI/Innovate UK Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund to use artificial intelligence to select chemotherapy for patients. Combined with the recent submission for UKRI Strength in Places funding to create the NI Precision Biomarkers and Therapeutics Consortium (NIPBT) and the UK government funded Belfast Region City Deal 'Institute of Research Excellence for Advanced Clinical Healthcare' (iREACH), Northern Ireland is rapidly developing a dynamic ecosystem for precision medicine.
In summary, this scholarship will benefit ADS and QUB through the sharing of expertise and will also develop Dr Turkington into a uniquely skilled individual who can drive innovation in precision oncology. It will benefit the wider healthcare infrastructure in Northern Ireland and cancer patients by providing effective, precise and tailored treatment.
Historically, developing a cancer biomarker has been difficult. Despite thousands of potential tests only a select few have made it through to day-to-day use in hospitals; there are many reasons for this. Cancer biomarkers developed in a university setting may not produce reliable results when used in hospital laboratories. This could be due to inaccuracies in how they were designed or insufficient laboratory procedures to limit variation between batches of tests or different laboratories. Also, many biomarkers are developed using impractical technologies which are not used in hospital laboratories, do not provide clinically relevant results or are not produced or tested to a high enough standard to gain government approval for use. To overcome these issues collaboration between universities, hospitals and the biotechnology industry is needed. More importantly, there are very few cancer physicians with the knowledge and skills required to design these tests and work in all of these settings. This proposal seeks to break down these barriers and develop a new, collaborative approach to cancer biomarker development.
By becoming a UKRI Innovation Scholar, Dr Turkington will gain essential skills in the design and development of cancer biomarkers. During his secondment at Almac Diagnostic Services (ADS) he will learn how to manage cancer biomarker tests as part of clinical trials. He will gain experience of a high-level commercial environment as well as essential skills in management and leadership. This knowledge will be transferred back to Queen's University Belfast (QUB) and used to progress research biomarkers, design new cancer treatment strategies and influence the wider research culture. Dr Turkington will also be integral to the design of new cancer biomarkers and clinical trials, which will be tested through UKRI and UK government funded regional cancer trial programmes.
Northern Ireland already has a strong health innovation environment with the presence of QUB, five research-active Healthcare Trusts and multiple biotechnology companies, including ADS, who specialise in clinical biomarker development and delivery. Over several years QUB has positioned itself as a leader in precision oncology through investments such as the Precision Medicine Centre of Excellence (PMC) and NI Biobank. The PMC is supported by the UKRI/Innovate UK Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund to use artificial intelligence to select chemotherapy for patients. Combined with the recent submission for UKRI Strength in Places funding to create the NI Precision Biomarkers and Therapeutics Consortium (NIPBT) and the UK government funded Belfast Region City Deal 'Institute of Research Excellence for Advanced Clinical Healthcare' (iREACH), Northern Ireland is rapidly developing a dynamic ecosystem for precision medicine.
In summary, this scholarship will benefit ADS and QUB through the sharing of expertise and will also develop Dr Turkington into a uniquely skilled individual who can drive innovation in precision oncology. It will benefit the wider healthcare infrastructure in Northern Ireland and cancer patients by providing effective, precise and tailored treatment.
Technical Summary
The field of oncology is transitioning from a 'one-size-fits-all' approach to more personalised treatments. To facilitate this move to precision oncology, robust cancer biomarker tests are needed to guide treatment decisions.
Thousands of potential biomarkers have been proposed but few have been implemented in routine clinical practice. Often this is due to inadequate validation, insufficient investment or inappropriate technology platforms. The 'translational gap' between the academic discovery of a cancer biomarker and its implementation and commercialisation is wide. It is clear that a new collaborative approach is required.
The vision of this proposal is to bring together academia, industry and healthcare stakeholders to create alignment of academic insight and industrial capability in the field of oncology.
As an oncologist, biomarker expert and clinical triallist, Dr Turkington is ideally placed to perform this role. Through secondment at Almac Diagnostic Services (ADS) he will gain experience in delivering biomarkers in a high-level commercial and regulatory environment. This proposal will equip Dr Turkington with the skills necessary to translate biomarkers from academic discoveries, through development as assays, to application in biomarker-led trials. By retaining his academic position at QUB the cultural impact will be disseminated to his wider research network. Northern Ireland is developing a world-class diagnostic and healthcare environment and critical to its success will be individuals with the skill set to work seamlessly across academia, industry and healthcare.
The challenge of this proposal is to grow the skills and expertise necessary to ensure that biomarkers move from bench to business to bedside more rapidly.
In conclusion, this proposal will enable Dr Turkington to work at the intersection of academia and industry with wider benefits to cancer patients and the economy through driving innovation in precision oncology.
Thousands of potential biomarkers have been proposed but few have been implemented in routine clinical practice. Often this is due to inadequate validation, insufficient investment or inappropriate technology platforms. The 'translational gap' between the academic discovery of a cancer biomarker and its implementation and commercialisation is wide. It is clear that a new collaborative approach is required.
The vision of this proposal is to bring together academia, industry and healthcare stakeholders to create alignment of academic insight and industrial capability in the field of oncology.
As an oncologist, biomarker expert and clinical triallist, Dr Turkington is ideally placed to perform this role. Through secondment at Almac Diagnostic Services (ADS) he will gain experience in delivering biomarkers in a high-level commercial and regulatory environment. This proposal will equip Dr Turkington with the skills necessary to translate biomarkers from academic discoveries, through development as assays, to application in biomarker-led trials. By retaining his academic position at QUB the cultural impact will be disseminated to his wider research network. Northern Ireland is developing a world-class diagnostic and healthcare environment and critical to its success will be individuals with the skill set to work seamlessly across academia, industry and healthcare.
The challenge of this proposal is to grow the skills and expertise necessary to ensure that biomarkers move from bench to business to bedside more rapidly.
In conclusion, this proposal will enable Dr Turkington to work at the intersection of academia and industry with wider benefits to cancer patients and the economy through driving innovation in precision oncology.
People |
ORCID iD |
Richard Turkington (Principal Investigator) |
Publications

Vikas P
(2023)
Mismatch Repair and Microsatellite Instability Testing for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy: ASCO Endorsement of College of American Pathologists Guideline.
in Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
Description | ASCO Molecular testing guidlines- Mismatch repair |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Impact | The guidelines have clarified the most appropriate tests to use for mismatch repair in gastrointestinal cancers. |
URL | https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JCO.22.02462 |
Description | Almac Diagnostics Collaboration |
Organisation | Almac Group |
Department | Almac Diagnostics |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | The Queen's University Belfast have provided 273 FFPE endoscopic biopsy samples for gene expression analysis at Almac Diagnostics. These samples have been profiled in order to assist in the validation of a gene signature called the DNA Damage Response Deficiency (DDRD) signature and the raw data returned to QUB for analysis. |
Collaborator Contribution | Almac Diagnostics have provided sample preparation, hybridisation to the Xcel array platform, quality control of data and bioinformatic analysis support. |
Impact | Poster and abstract at the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) conference 2016 |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | BREACH consortium |
Organisation | Catapult |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | BREACH is an academic/industry collaborative network designed to promote co-operation in the field of personalised medicine and biomarkers. The programme is supported by: 1. MedCity- a cluster organisation for the health and life sciences sector in London 2. The CATAPULT network- bringing together nine leading technology and innovation centres spanning over 50 locations across the UK. 3. Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI)- an alliance of universities, health organisations and other industry bodies, established to drive and support ambitious growth in Northern Ireland's Life & Health Sciences sector. The BREACH consortium has established virtual matchmaking events where senior Biomarker academics nationally present a short description of their research interests. This is followed by short pitches from technology companies covering their platforms or services. After the presentations there is an opportunity to link together researchers and industry representatives who could work together on current or future projects. The expertise gained during my UKRI Innovation Scholar Secondment has helped me to guide the programme of the matchmaking events and contribute to greater academic and industry collaboration. |
Collaborator Contribution | Multiple academic and industry partners have signed up for our first biomarker matchmaking event in 'April of this year and hope to develop strong collaborations to drive the development of their biomarkers. |
Impact | No outputs yet |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | BREACH consortium |
Organisation | MedCity |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | BREACH is an academic/industry collaborative network designed to promote co-operation in the field of personalised medicine and biomarkers. The programme is supported by: 1. MedCity- a cluster organisation for the health and life sciences sector in London 2. The CATAPULT network- bringing together nine leading technology and innovation centres spanning over 50 locations across the UK. 3. Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI)- an alliance of universities, health organisations and other industry bodies, established to drive and support ambitious growth in Northern Ireland's Life & Health Sciences sector. The BREACH consortium has established virtual matchmaking events where senior Biomarker academics nationally present a short description of their research interests. This is followed by short pitches from technology companies covering their platforms or services. After the presentations there is an opportunity to link together researchers and industry representatives who could work together on current or future projects. The expertise gained during my UKRI Innovation Scholar Secondment has helped me to guide the programme of the matchmaking events and contribute to greater academic and industry collaboration. |
Collaborator Contribution | Multiple academic and industry partners have signed up for our first biomarker matchmaking event in 'April of this year and hope to develop strong collaborations to drive the development of their biomarkers. |
Impact | No outputs yet |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Breakthrough Cancer Research ALLCan Consortium |
Organisation | Trinity College Dublin |
Country | Ireland |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The Breakthrough Cancer Research AllCan consortium is an all-Ireland network established to link universities across Ireland in a network to study oesophageal cancer. Queen's University Belfast is providing RNAseq data, digital images and methylation data funded by this grant. This has enabled us to attract funding for the consortium and to recruit a PhD student to carry you work on the molecular images. |
Collaborator Contribution | Partner organisations include Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin and industry partners such as Decipher and Oncoassure. Trinity are providing additional Barrett's oesophagus samples and digital images to validate the molecular and imaging biomarkers generated by Queen's. |
Impact | No outputs yet |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | PEACEPLUS EU Biomarker collaboration |
Organisation | Almac Group |
Department | Almac Diagnostics |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | We have established an all-Ireland precision medicine consortium with Queen's University Belfast, Trinity College Dublin and Almac Diagnostic to advance molecular testing for early-phase oncology trials on the island of Ireland. This consortium has formed the basis for an application to the EU PEACEPLUS programme. My links with Almac Diagnostics, facilitated by this grant, have enabled me to lead a workpackage of clinical testing work to establish NGS panel testing for oncology patients. |
Collaborator Contribution | Trinity College Dublin, led by Prof Maeve Lowery, are planning the establishment of the PROGRESS umbrella trial for early-phase oncology trials in the south of Ireland. This trial, combined with molecular testing through Almac, would establish a pathway for patients to access novel chemotherapeutics in Ireland. The Queen's University Belfast team, led by Prof Vicky Coyle, would facilitate recruitment of patients to the similar UK DETERMINE trial. |
Impact | No outputs yet |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | PEACEPLUS EU Biomarker collaboration |
Organisation | Queen's University Belfast |
Department | Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have established an all-Ireland precision medicine consortium with Queen's University Belfast, Trinity College Dublin and Almac Diagnostic to advance molecular testing for early-phase oncology trials on the island of Ireland. This consortium has formed the basis for an application to the EU PEACEPLUS programme. My links with Almac Diagnostics, facilitated by this grant, have enabled me to lead a workpackage of clinical testing work to establish NGS panel testing for oncology patients. |
Collaborator Contribution | Trinity College Dublin, led by Prof Maeve Lowery, are planning the establishment of the PROGRESS umbrella trial for early-phase oncology trials in the south of Ireland. This trial, combined with molecular testing through Almac, would establish a pathway for patients to access novel chemotherapeutics in Ireland. The Queen's University Belfast team, led by Prof Vicky Coyle, would facilitate recruitment of patients to the similar UK DETERMINE trial. |
Impact | No outputs yet |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | PEACEPLUS EU Biomarker collaboration |
Organisation | Trinity College Dublin |
Country | Ireland |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have established an all-Ireland precision medicine consortium with Queen's University Belfast, Trinity College Dublin and Almac Diagnostic to advance molecular testing for early-phase oncology trials on the island of Ireland. This consortium has formed the basis for an application to the EU PEACEPLUS programme. My links with Almac Diagnostics, facilitated by this grant, have enabled me to lead a workpackage of clinical testing work to establish NGS panel testing for oncology patients. |
Collaborator Contribution | Trinity College Dublin, led by Prof Maeve Lowery, are planning the establishment of the PROGRESS umbrella trial for early-phase oncology trials in the south of Ireland. This trial, combined with molecular testing through Almac, would establish a pathway for patients to access novel chemotherapeutics in Ireland. The Queen's University Belfast team, led by Prof Vicky Coyle, would facilitate recruitment of patients to the similar UK DETERMINE trial. |
Impact | No outputs yet |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | NOTCH National Oncology Trainees Collaborative for Healthcare Research |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I presented my experience with the secondment and working with industry at the annual research conference for oncology trainees. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.uknotch.com |