Cancer continues to be a major cause of deaths worldwide. It is estimated that one in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. The aim of cancer researchers in the School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine is to increase our understanding of the cellular and molecular biology of cancer and to translate these findings into new cancer biomarkers for cancer prevention, early detection, and novel therapeutic strategies for cancer.   

Our interdisciplinary research spans adult cancers such as breast, prostate and bowel cancer, as well as childhood cancers such as neuroblastoma, Wilms' tumours and childhood leukaemia. Our main research themes are cell competition, treatment resistance, cell-signalling, epigenetics, transcriptional deregulation, predictive and precision-oncology-driven, human cell-based 3D organoid models, cancer microenvironment and target/drug discovery. We use a range of cutting-edge techniques to examine crucial mechanisms in cancer initiation, progression, and treatment resistance. These technologies include advanced microscopy, Drosophila genetics, RNA sequencing, proteomics, cell generational and cell-fate tracking, high throughput screens and 3D bioprinting. 

Our over-arching aim is to establish and implement transformative cancer research technologies to enable improved ways to treat cancer.  Working in close collaboration with local hospitals and clinician colleagues, we actively engage in Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement activities, to ensure that patient needs and opinions are at the centre of our research strategy.