ProMPT (Prostate Cancer: Mechanisms of Progression and Treatment)

Members of our group are actively involved with a number of external stakeholders including the Department of Health (England), the HEFCE and major national charities and scientific societies. We regularly report in the media on prostate cancer matters of topical interest and have actively influenced UK Health Policy with respect to screening, configuration of services for men with prostate cancer, quality control with respect to surgical and radio-therapeutic treatments, and prostate biopsy. Each of the clinically active members has regular interaction with local and national patient groups for prostate cancer

ProMPT is a collaborative translational research group based in six UK universities studying advanced and progressing prostate cancer. Our aims are to study the molecular pathology of hormone resistant and metastatic prostate cancer in man to identify potential targets, which we are studying and validating in human tissue and human cell models that we have developed. Our drug development and bio-repository programmes both ensure that we constantly focus on potential benefit to patients. The main bio-science discovery programmes, focused on advanced or progressing disease feed forward into translational studies. Our clinical studies are focused on testing novel agents accompanied by laboratory investigation of biopies to determine the effects on prostate cancer. The rapidly developing genetic epidemiology group is carrying out studies which aim to identify high risk groups and potentially modifiable environmental agents. There is active management, regular workshops and meetings to ensure that the potential added value of the collaborative is realised.