Research
In addressing the challenges in tackling ovarian cancer, our research is divided into four key themes, with each grouping combining expertise from both scientists and clinicians, with the aim of maximising the quality of our translational output.
Research areas
Risk and Prevention
Selected research topics include:
- Development and validation of epigenetic risk models.
- Understanding of epigenetic mechanisms of cancer risk exposures.
- Understanding the cellular function of mutant BReast CAncer (BRCA) genes
- Identifying novel biomarkers of resistance to platinum in BRCA mutant patients
- New strategies to guide the personalisation of cancer prevention and screening programmes.
Read more about this research through the following group pages: Dr Jonathan Krell and Dr James Flanagan
Tumour Development and Progression
Selected research topics include:
- Structural biology of opioid-binding protein/cell adhesion molecule (OPCML).
- Understanding the mechanism of OPCML trafficking in cells, i.e. how it moves in and out cells.
- Understanding how OPCML associates with its interacting partners (e.g. receptor tyrosine kinases) and how it modulates their function.
- Therapeutic development of OPCML as an anti-cancer drug.
Read more about this research through the following group pages: Professor Hani Gabra and Dr Chiara Recchi
Research areas
Heterogeneity and Drug Resistance
Selected research topics include:
- Molecular understanding of the role of intra-tumoural heterogeneity in the response and development of resistance to chemotherapy.
- Development of medical devices as a tool to accurately profile ovarian cancer.
- Exploring metabolic targets that mediate the influence of the microenvironment on tumour cell proliferation and drug resistance.
- Investigating how inhibition of DNA-PK/AKT restores response to platinum in resistant patients.
- Establishing novel, in-house therapeutics around the DNA-PK/AKT axis.
Read more about this research through the following group pages: Dr Hector Keun, Professor Christina Fotopoulou and Dr Paula Cunnea
Precision Medicine
Selected research topics include:
- Identification of stratification biomarkers, specifically immunological, both prognostic and predictive.
- Evaluation and development of novel histone deacetylase (HDAC) and histone methyltransferase (HKMT) inhibitors.
- Clinical translation of epigenetic tumour profiling and epigenetic therapies as potential chemosensitisers.
- Application of the intelligent knife (I-Knife) to improve diagnosis and surgical outcome in ovarian cancer treatment.
Read more about this research through the following group pages: Professor Bob Brown, Dr Matthew Fuchter and Dr Sadaf Ghaem-Maghami