Barts Cancer Institute

We're delighted that the BCI has earned the LEAF Bronze award for sustainability🌳

Congratulations to our lab and facilities team, pictured here with their LEAF certificates, for their hard work 🍃

🧪 Lab research, while crucial for scientific progress, can be energy and resource-intensive. For example, globally, labs generate about 2% of the world's plastic waste. That means that we have a responsibility as an institute to reduce the environmental impact of our research for the well-being of future generations - including people affected by cancer.

🏅 Now that we have achieved Bronze certification, we are committed to going further and achieving Silver within the next year, and going for Gold in the following years.

📰 Visit our news page at the link in our bio to read more about LEAF and our plans to further improve our sustainability.

🧪 From Postgrad to Principal Investigator – how do you build a research career?

When Dr Alex Papachristodoulou joined our MSc programme at Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London in 2012, he discovered his passion for cancer research and set out on a path that led him to a PhD in Switzerland, postdoctoral research in New York, and now, his own independent lab at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

🔬 Alex’s research focuses on mitochondrial dysfunction in prostate cancer, aiming to better understand how genetic and metabolic factors influence tumour progression and patient outcomes.

💬 Looking back on his time at BCI, Alex says:
“My time at the institute nurtured my passion for cancer research, and I realised that an academic career was the right and only choice for me. Studying at the BCI offered a unique opportunity to explore the immense translational impact of basic cancer research in an environment that values and encourages curiosity.

“But perhaps more important than the knowledge I gained in lectures were the interactions with my lecturers and the strong, long-term relationships I formed with my mentors. The amazing support and motivation I received from everyone at the BCI – both then and now – extends far beyond the degree and has empowered my career success.”

Alex particularly credits Prof. Kairbaan Hodivala-Dilke, in whose lab he carried out his research project, and Prof. Richard Grose, who supported him in his efforts to secure a position at a competitive international PhD program, for their guidance and support.

When asked what advice he would give to current and future students, Alex says:
“My advice is to ask questions and talk to your mentors—they’re there to help! Most importantly, enjoy the experience and put yourself out there. No matter how daunting something seems, don’t overthink it—just go for it.”

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💡 If you're considering a future in cancer research, our MSc Open Day is the perfect opportunity to explore what BCI has to offer.

📅 Wednesday 12th March
📍 Online or in person at Charterhouse Square, London
🔗 Secure your place today: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/barts-cancer-institute-hybrid-msc-open-day-tickets-1224859470649?

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"I want to make sure I stay grounded and listen to the people I am representing to ensure I do them justice. I’m going to take away a more confident version of myself."

🔵 This is Faaria's story: part of our cancer patient advocate voices series.

🔗 Learn more about our VOICE Science for Patient Advocates course: https://www.bci.qmul.ac.uk/general-news/2024/10/helping-cancer-patient-advocates-find-their-voice/

💬 "My name is Faaria, and I’m a person living with cancer. Last year, I saw a recruitment call for Cancer Research UK (CRUK)’s insights panel. It featured a woman who shared her story and explained why she got involved. Seeing someone who looked like me made me think: “I could do that.” Since then, I’ve volunteered for Cancer Research UK in various patient advocacy roles, and I was recently appointed as a public committee member for the National Institute of Health and Social Care Research. As my advocacy work has expanded, I’ve taken on more responsibilities including reviewing scientific research papers. To support me in contributing to these discussions, Cancer Research UK nominated and funded me to take the VOICE course.

The lectures have been absolutely amazing. The time in the labs has been incredible. What we've seen through microscopes: mind-blowing. The things we've heard: stratospheric! But the most valuable thing this week has been finding my voice. Communicating with other participants, learning how valuable patient advocacy is to the research team and feeling my confidence grow: that has been empowering.

Going forward, I want to make sure I stay grounded and listen to the people I am representing to ensure I do them justice. I’m going to take away a more confident version of myself. When I’m sitting on a panel, I’ll know that I have the right to be there and that my opinion matters, and I will feel enabled to make sure I’m heard."

👩‍🔬 We recently welcomed budding young scientists into the BCI to try out their lab skills side-by-side with our researchers as part of our STARS work experience programme.

🎓 Nearly fifty A-level students from schools around London took part in the programme, which aims to support young people from schools with historically low university attendance. STARS was founded at the BCI but this year expanded to include labs at UCL and King’s for the first time, thanks to funding from the Cancer Research UK City of London Centre.

💬 Prof John F Marshall, the driving force behind STARS, said: “Pursuing a career in science is exhilarating, challenging, and enables you to make a real difference to the world. But in some schools, really bright, promising young people feel that science isn’t for them. I developed the STARS programme to inspire future researchers – whatever their background – so that together, we can improve health for all.”

🙋‍♂️ As well as having the opportunity to meet senior researchers like Professor Marshall, students participating in STARS were mentored by our PhD students. This gave participants the opportunity to find out more about potential career paths, and to meet scientists from diverse backgrounds. A huge thank you to all our PhD demonstrators for getting involved!

🌍 Today, on International Clinical Trials Day, we're celebrating our cancer clinical trials, and how they are transforming cancer care.

We're grateful to everyone who enables these trials to take place, including the patients who participate.

📰 https://www.bartscancer.london/general-news/2024/05/international-clinical-trials-day-how-barts-clinical-trials-are-changing-cancer-care/

International Clinical Trials Day – how Barts clinical trials are changing cancer care - Barts Cancer Institute - Queen Mary University of London To mark International Clinical Trials Day 2024, we’re spotlighting some of our clinical trial work and how it is helping to transform the lives of people with cancer.

BCI researchers have shed new light on how we could help immune cells fight a particularly hard-to-treat type of breast cancer, known as triple-negative breast cancer.

Dr Priyanka Hirani (lead author of the new paper) recently completed her PhD at the BCI in Dr Oliver Pearce's lab. During this project, Priyanka travelled to Seattle in the US to collaborate with Dr Kimberly Alonge and her team at the University of Washington.

In the US, Priyanka learned a cutting-edge technique that enabled her to discover how different forms of a molecule called versican can either help or hinder the passage of cancer-killing immune cells into breast cancer tumours.

💬 Priyanka says: "One protein can have a completely different effect depending on how it is modified. Understanding these differences could eventually help us make more targeted therapies that have a better impact on patients."

📰 Read more: https://www.bartscancer.london/general-news/2024/04/scientists-uncover-protein-with-the-power-to-help-or-hinder-breast-cancer-progression/

This work was made possible thanks to generous funding from Barts Charity, Against Breast Cancer and Cancer Research UK

An immunotherapy drug significantly improves survival in people with kidney cancer when given after surgery, according to a landmark clinical trial by the BCI's Professor Thomas Powles and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's Dr Toni Choueiri.

📰 https://www.bartscancer.london/general-news/2024/04/immunotherapy-drug-improves-survival-for-people-with-kidney-cancer-in-landmark-clinical-trial/?classic-editor

The results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, mark the first time an adjuvant therapy has shown this kind of benefit in kidney cancer after 50 years of research.

Huge congratulations to the team!

Immunotherapy drug improves survival for people with kidney cancer in landmark clinical trial - Barts Cancer Institute - Queen Mary University of London For the first time in fifty years, researchers have shown that giving an immunotherapy drug to people with kidney cancer after surgery improves their overall survival, according to results of a phase 3 randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The trial was led by Dr Toni Choueiri at the Dana-Farber Can...

Join us in welcoming Prof Nitzan Rosenfeld as he steps into the role of Director of Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London.

In this interview, Prof Rosenfeld reflects on how he has traversed the worlds of academia and industry over the years, and how a cancer diagnosis in his own family changed the trajectory of his career.

https://www.bartscancer.london/interviews/2024/04/introducing-professor-nitzan-rosenfeld/

💬 Prof Rosenfeld says:

"I am proud to be part of Queen Mary University of London, which supports people of all backgrounds who wish to fulfil their potential through higher education and research."

Introducing: Professor Nitzan Rosenfeld - Barts Cancer Institute - Queen Mary University of London We are pleased to welcome Professor Nitzan Rosenfeld as the new Director of the Barts Cancer Institute at Queen Mary University of London. We spoke to Professor Rosenfeld to hear more about his journey leading him to the Barts Cancer Institute.

📰 Breakthrough treatment for a rare and aggressive cancer offers new hope for patients.

A clinical trial led by Professor Peter Szlosarek at Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London reveals that a new drug combination quadruples the number of mesothelioma patients surviving for 3 years.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) has one of the lowest 5-year survival rates of any solid cancer: around 5-10%. Around 80% of mesothelioma cases are caused by exposure to asbestos and few therapeutic options are available.

The premise of the new drug is elegant in its simplicity – starving the tumour by cutting off its food supply. This innovative approach marks the first successful combination of chemotherapy with a drug that targets cancer's metabolism developed for this disease in 20 years.

This trial represents the culmination of a 20-year research journey at the BCI that began with Professor Szlosarek’s discovery – made during his PhD – that some cancer cells lack a protein that enables them to manufacture their own supply of the nutrient arginine.

The stories of the people the trial benefitted bring its impact to life. One participant, Mick, developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos while working in a factory. He was initially given four months to live. But thanks to the trial, Mick is enjoying life five years later.

He says: “I have five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren now – I wouldn’t want to miss all that.”

Professor Szlosarek and his team believe that this approach also holds promise for other types of cancer – studies are already underway exploring this exciting possibility.

📰 Read the full story: https://www.bartscancer.london/general-news/2024/02/new-treatment-for-mesothelioma-improves-survival-in-breakthrough-clinical-trial/

This trial was sponsored by Polaris Pharmaceuticals Inc.

New treatment for mesothelioma improves survival in breakthrough clinical trial - Barts Cancer Institute An innovative treatment significantly increases the survival of people with malignant mesothelioma, a rare but rapidly fatal type of cancer with few effective treatment options