Childhood Cancer Research Group
Research Achievements
Children's cancer research is an established academic strength in Newcastle, encompassing major research areas aimed at improving cure rates in leukaemia and neuroblastoma, These strengths were consolidated by a Faculty-led initiative to support paediatric brain tumour research. These multi-disciplinary research teams integrate cross-Faculty expertise, exemplified by recent achievements in;
- Exploratory biology and target identification (eg identification of a novel medulloblastoma tumour suppressor gene (Ellison, Clifford), P53 function in neuroblastoma (Tweddle, Lunec) and retinoid-induced apoptosis in neuroblastoma (Redfern)
- Target validation and treatment optimisation (eq. N-myc and chomosome 17 status in neuroblastoma (Pearson and Jackson) and TPMT status in leukaemia (Hall)
- Pharmacology and developmental therapeutics (eg pharmacological guidance and molecular pharmacology of paediatric platinum therapies (Boddy, Tilby) and design of cdk inhibitors (Newell)
- Pathological review
- Clinical trials. These strengths are further evidenced by our grant funding record, including programme funding.
Research Strategy
Our group research strategy maps closely to the overall goals of the Northern Institute for Cancer Research: To improve the outlook for children with cancer through the identification of paediatric targets for use in the optimisation of current therapies and the development of new therapeutic approaches. Group status will build upon the successes of existing collaborative ventures within Newcastle, formalise relationships and give added value by bringing together academics from across the Faculty who are focused on children's cancer research. Specifically, this research group facilitates;
- Strategic planning aimed at the development and management of focused groupings capable of winning further major programme grant funding in the future (eg from Medical Research Council, European Community, Cancer Research UK), and
- the development of new collaborative and multi-disciplinary approaches, through the early discussion of novel data and findings, the sharing of expertise and the development of common approaches and technologies.
Further information about this area of research can be found on the Northern Institute for Cancer Research website.
Staff List
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Dr James Allan
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Dr Simon Bailey
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Professor Alan Boddy
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Professor Steven Clifford
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Professor Andy Hall
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Dr Olaf Heidenreich
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Dr Julie Irving
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Dr Michael Jackson
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Professor John Lunec
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Professor Anthony Moorman
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Professor Herbie Newell
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Dr Christopher Redfern
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Professor Deborah Tweddle
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Dr Gareth Veal
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Professor Josef Vormoor
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