What we do

Hammersmith Hospital is a world class centre of excellence for HPB surgery and it has an active patient driven research programme. Research has a clear focus to improve the treatment of HPB cancers and patient outcomes.

Exciting research from members of the group includes:

Small activating RNAs - Professor Nagy Habib

saRNAs are small oligonucleotide drugs, similar in chemical structure to siRNAs whose potential and pre-clinical development was undertaken by Professor Nagy Habib and colleagues in the Francis Fraser lab located on the Hammersmith campus. The pharmaceutical agent is MTL-CEPA which is in THREE clinical trials (OUTREACH Study, TIMEPOINT study and OUTREACH2 study).

RNA Aptamers - Professor Nagy Habib

Development of RNA aptamers to target cancer cells for the potential treatment of inoperable pancreatic cancer

Medical devices - Professor Nagy Habib

Two devices invented at in the HPB Surgery unit are marketed by global medical device companies – the Habib™ 4X, a bloodless resection device and the Habib™ HPB an endoscopic catheter for ablation and palliation of pancreatic and bile duct cancers.

Neuroendocrine tumours - Professor Andrea Frilling

ICL is an established European Neuroendocrine Tumour Society Centre of Excellence for treatment of neuroendocrine tumours. The aim is is to improve clinical management of NET patients, develop clinical trials, provide education, support research, and enhance cooperation in the NET community.

MRI scanning of fatty livers - Mr Duncan Spalding

The HPB Surgical Unit recognised two key areas of clinical need for the application of a method to identify if steatohepatitis (fatty liver) is reversible and to assess pre-operative (neoadjuvant) chemotherapy-associated steatohepatitis (CASH) in hepatic metastatic disease from colorectal origin. The BRC funded a clinical trial (iDOSH study) to investigate the role of MRI scanning with FBA-A20FMDV2, radiolabelled with fluorine-18 ([18F]-FBA-A20FMDV2).

Medical Eye Tracking Research - Mr Mikael Sodergren

This research focuses on the innovative application of eye tracking technology to improve outcomes in patients undergoing surgery and other medical interventions.

Immunomodulatory Cancer Therapies - Mr Mikael Sodergren

This group studies the techniques that modify the immune response to tumours, with particular emphasis on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. We are particularly interested in therapies that can be leveraged in the peri-operative setting to improve outcomes.

Medical Cannabis Research  - Mr Mikael Sodergren

This research programme evaluates and develops novel therapies targeting the endocannabinoid system through a framework of in vitro, in vivo and clinical translational activities.