Title: Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence renewal accelerator award.
Funder: Cancer Research UK

Abstract: Background Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer associated deaths worldwide. The CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence (LCCE) was established between University College London (UCL) and the University of Manchester (UoM) and associated NHS Trusts in January 2015 to galvanise high quality lung cancer research across the UK. Aims We are fulfilling two major goals: to elevate fundamental understanding of lung cancer biology with clinical translation to improve patient outcomes, and to train the next generation of lung cancer researchers. Under the synergistic leadership of Professors Charles Swanton (UCL) and Caroline Dive (UoM), the LCCE will (i) deliver internationally leading research across our 5 integrated, multi-disciplinary research Themes; Early Detection, Basic Science, Immunology, Drug Discovery and Clinical Trials, (ii) amplify its impact nationally and internationally with dissemination of research methods, protocols and models, (iii) continue to recruit junior PIs with potential to become leaders and (iv) extend our training programme for young scientist and clinicians including a ‘grass-roots’ approach to encourage sixth formers to become lung cancer researchers. Methods We are developing 4 enabling cores in Clinical Translation and biomarkers, Pathology, Informatics and Preclinical Models to support our research. The requested infrastructure within these cores will increase cross–site collaborations, expedite delivery of our objectives and be cost effective. The cores will support UK wide lung cancer research, sharing informatics pipelines, mouse models and general expertise. Our successful workshops for PhD students, Clinical and Postdoctoral Fellows will continue to expand, and offer the ‘How do I’ lecture series to ‘fast track’ a broadened understanding of lung cancer at the start of their research careers. How the results of this research will be used By 2024 UK lung cancer research will be transformed. Community-based screening will nationwide with lethal lung cancers detected earlier through integration of CT screening and liquid biopsies. Relapse following surgery will be detected earlier through minimal residual disease cfDNA tracking for adjuvant trial escalation. Successful intervention with targeted, radio and immunotherapies, focussed on adoptive T cell therapies targeting clonal neoantigens will drive our clinical themes, guided by predictive biomarkers with minimally invasive monitoring of tumour evolution informing next therapy choices throughout a patient’s lifetime with improved quality of life and survival. Through focused training, we will have developed a ‘pipeline’ of diverse research talent encompassing a significant student cadre to a number of recognised future leaders securing the future of UK lung cancer research.

Lay abstract: Background Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer associated deaths worldwide. The CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence (LCCE) was established between University College London (UCL) and the University of Manchester (UoM) and associated NHS Trusts in January 2015 to galvanise high quality lung cancer research across the UK. Aims We are fulfilling two major goals: to elevate fundamental understanding of lung cancer biology with clinical translation to improve patient outcomes, and to train the next generation of lung cancer researchers. Under the synergistic leadership of Professors Charles Swanton (UCL) and Caroline Dive (UoM), the LCCE will (i) deliver internationally leading research across our 5 integrated, multi-disciplinary research Themes; Early Detection, Basic Science, Immunology, Drug Discovery and Clinical Trials, (ii) amplify its impact nationally and internationally with dissemination of research methods, protocols and models, (iii) continue to recruit junior PIs with potential to become leaders and (iv) extend our training programme for young scientist and clinicians including a ‘grass-roots’ approach to encourage sixth formers to become lung cancer researchers. Methods We are developing 4 enabling cores in Clinical Translation and biomarkers, Pathology, Informatics and Preclinical Models to support our research. The requested infrastructure within these cores will increase cross–site collaborations, expedite delivery of our objectives and be cost effective. The cores will support UK wide lung cancer research, sharing informatics pipelines, mouse models and general expertise. Our successful workshops for PhD students, Clinical and Postdoctoral Fellows will continue to expand, and offer the ‘How do I’ lecture series to ‘fast track’ a broadened understanding of lung cancer at the start of their research careers. How the results of this research will be used By 2024 UK lung cancer research will be transformed. Community-based screening will nationwide with lethal lung cancers detected earlier through integration of CT screening and liquid biopsies. Relapse following surgery will be detected earlier through minimal residual disease cfDNA tracking for adjuvant trial escalation. Successful intervention with targeted, radio and immunotherapies, focussed on adoptive T cell therapies targeting clonal neoantigens will drive our clinical themes, guided by predictive biomarkers with minimally invasive monitoring of tumour evolution informing next therapy choices throughout a patient’s lifetime with improved quality of life and survival. Through focused training, we will have developed a ‘pipeline’ of diverse research talent encompassing a significant student cadre to a number of recognised future leaders securing the future of UK lung cancer research.

Research activity codes: 2.1 BIOLOGICAL AND ENDOGENOUS FACTORS;4.1 DISCOVERY AND PRECLINICAL TESTING OF MARKERS AND TECHNOLOGIES;4.2 EVALUATION OF MARKERS AND TECHNOLOGIES;5.1 PHARMACEUTICALS
Health categories: CANCER AND NEOPLASMS