CLINICAL RESEARCH STRAND 1: ONCOLOGY
Oncology 1: Diagnostic Platform for Circulating Tumour Cells Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide: it accounted for aproximately 8 million deaths in 2007. Deaths from cancer worldwide are projected to continue rising, with an estimated 12 million deaths in 2030. Disseminated malignancy is responsible for the vast majority of cancer-related deaths and circulating tumour cells (CTCs) play a central role in metastasis This project exploits seminal scientific observations to enable a significant enhancement in rare circulating tumour cell detection and CTC diagnostic platform design. Core Competencies:
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Oncology 2: Circulating miRNA Biochip for Diagnosis & Prognosis of Breast Cancer Breast cancer is the commonest malignancy amongst women in the developed world, with 1.3 million new cases diagnosed and 465,000 deaths annually worldwide. Early diagnosis remains a challenge but dramatically reduces morbidity and mortality. Correlation of molecular subtypes of malignant breast cancer with circulating miRNAs suggests there may be specific circulating miRNA signatures of breast cancer This project involves the development of a biochip platform (free of molecular amplification) around a panel of miRNA-based breast cancer biomarkers. Core Competencies:
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Oncology 3: Colorectal Cancer Multi-marker Diagnostic Device Every year approximately 600,000 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer and over 250,000 die of the disease in the USA and Europe alone, making it the second leading cause of death from cancer among adults. The clinical behaviour of colorectal cancer results from complex molecular processes at the cellular level In this project, a recently established panel of antibodies is optimised to identify a small number of markers that can distinguish symptomatic patients who need urgent colonoscopy from those for whom colonoscopy can be deferred. Core Competencies: |
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