Cancer Models

Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) is a world-leader in cancer research, and is home to Barts Cancer Institute – an official CRUK centre. The Blizard Institute also houses key cancer research themes including in skin cancer, brain cancer, childhood cancer, colorectal cancer, and oral cancer. An overview of cancer research taking place in the medical school at QMUL can be found here with further cancer research taking place across the university.

A major strength of cancer research at QMUL is our focus on in vitro cancer models. This has important advantages in enabling more accurate prediction for clinical prognosis, and development of new therapies. Major initiatives have included the CANBUILD project, development of microfluidic cancer models, and cancer metastasis models. All of these initiatives involve cross-faculty collaboration, and this multi-disciplinary approach is a great strength – cancer research at QMUL involves biologists, computer scientists, bioengineers, and mathematicians. Investment in cross-faculty facilities including the CREATE lab has been an important factor in the success of this approach.

The growth of the Animal Replacement Centre (ARC), within the Blizard Institute, has been an exciting recent development. This is a centre of excellence for the development of accurate human cancer models that can reduce the number of animals used in cancer research. Funded by Animal Free Research UK, and directed by Prof Mike Philpott and Dr Adrian Biddle, the ARC is improving the ability to predict the behaviour of human cancer using in vitro human models. Since launching, the ARC has attracted further funding from the National Centre for the 3Rs (NC3Rs) to develop a metastasis on a chip model, and Oracle Cancer Trust to pursue the use of in vitro models for development of a clinically predictive disease signature for oral cancer.

Cancer cells

People

  • Dr Adrian Biddle
    Theme Lead for Cancer Models
    DHT Lecturer in Animal Replacement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London
  • Dr Vahitha Abdul Salam
    Lecturer, Queen Mary University of London
  • Prof Fran Balkwill
    Deputy Lead, Centre for Tumour Microenvironment, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London
  • Prof Paul Chapple
    Professor of Molecular Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London
  • Prof John Connelly
    Professor of Bioengineering, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London
  • Dr Paolo Gallipoli
    Clinical Senior Lecturer, Queen Mary University of London
  • Prof Julien Gautrot
    Professor of Biomaterials and Biointerfaces, Queen Mary University of London
  • Prof Richard Grose
    Professor of Cancer Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London
  • Prof Kairbaan Hodivala-Dilke
    Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London
  • Prof Martin Knight
    Professor of Mechanobiology, Queen Mary University of London
  • Prof David Lee
    Professor of Cell & Tissue Engineering, Queen Mary University of London
  • Dr Ryan O'Shaughnessy
    Senior Lecturer in Cell Biology, Queen Mary University of London
  • Dr Luigi Ombrato
    Group Leader / Lecturer, Barts Cancer Institute - QMUL
  • Prof Greg Slabaugh
    Director of the Digital Environment Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London
  • Prof Yi Sui
    Professor of Fluid Mechanics, Queen Mary University of London
  • Dr Muy-Teck Teh
    Senior Lecturer, Queen Mary University of London
  • Prof Zion Tse
    Academy of Medical Sciences Professor in Bioengineering, Queen Mary University of London
  • Dr Stefaan Verbruggen
    Lecturer in Bioengineering, Queen Mary University of London