Sarcoma UK is thrilled to announce a major investment in sarcoma research, with £1.4 million awarded to 12 groundbreaking projects across the UK.
These diverse projects aim to address critical gaps in sarcoma research, from developing more targeted treatments with fewer side effects to improving quality of life for those living with and beyond sarcoma.
Dr Sorrel Bickley, Director of Research, Policy and Support at Sarcoma UK, said: “This substantial investment in sarcoma research represents an important step forward in our mission to improve diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life for people affected by sarcoma. What makes these 12 projects particularly exciting is their innovative approaches – from targeted drug delivery systems that could reduce treatment side effects and novel immunotherapies that may overcome the challenges we’ve faced with traditional treatments, to vital work that addresses the psychological impact of living with sarcoma.”
This significant commitment brings our research investment for the year to £1.9 million and our all-time research investment to £9.8 million across more than 100 projects. We’re thrilled to be collaborating with the Sarah Burkeman Trust and GIST Cancer UK on specific grants, allowing us together to commit more funds for this important research.
Several projects are exploring innovative methods of drug delivery that can target cancer cells more precisely while reducing side effects on healthy tissue. Professor Amin Hajitou’s team at Imperial College London is testing the use of bacteriophages to deliver treatment to synovial sarcoma cells. This involves using a type of virus that can be directed to cancer cells and deliver cancer-killing agents, which has already shown promise in other types of sarcoma. Dr Daniel Payne’s team at the Open University, in collaboration with Excellio Labs, will be investigating using vesicles, which are natural particles that can be targeted to cancer cells and deliver therapy that will then be light activated, resulting in a less invasive treatment.
Multiple projects are working on developing immunotherapies, which are treatments that harness the body’s immune system to treat cancer. These have already advanced treatment options in other cancer types. Dr Fiona Errington-Mais’s team at the University of Leeds is investigating ‘cancer bursting’ viruses as a new type of immunotherapy for Ewing sarcoma. They’re designing oncolytic viruses with enzymes that can break down a protective barrier formed by Ewing sarcoma, allowing immune cells to attack the tumour more effectively.
While many projects are working to improve treatment options, we also know existing therapies for sarcoma can have lasting physical and psychological effects. We are funding a project led by Dr Marianne Aznar at the University of Manchester studying how children with rhabdomyosarcoma are affected by radiotherapy. This can impact facial development and affect a child’s confidence and quality of life. They are working to create guidelines to help doctors adapt treatment plans to avoid damaging sensitive areas, while ensuring effective treatment. With GIST Cancer UK we are funding Professor Nick Hulbert-Williams’s team at Edge Hill University who are adapting a digital support programme (Finding My Way UK) to better reflect the unique experiences and needs of people affected by sarcoma.
“None of this vital work would be possible without the extraordinary generosity of our supporters,” continues Dr Bickley. “Every donation, no matter the size, has contributed to reaching this £1.4 million investment.”
All new funded projects:
Improving outcomes for sarcoma patients through genomics technologies led by Dr Nischalan Pillay at University College London, £60,000 (funded by the Sarah Burkeman Trust)
An innovative method of drug delivery for synovial sarcoma led by Professor Amin Hajitou at Imperial College London
Identifying genomic features of synovial sarcoma that could provide treatment targets led by Dr Nezha Benabdallah at University of Edinburgh
Developing a new type of immunotherapy treatment for osteosarcoma led by Dr Jun Ishihara at Imperial College London
Developing new models of GIST (Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours) to support understanding and further research led by Professor Alan McIntyre at Imperial College London (funded in collaboration with GIST Cancer UK)
Adapting a digital support programme for people living with and beyond sarcoma (Finding My Way-UK-Sarcoma) led by Professor Nick Hulbert Williams at Edge Hill University (funded in collaboration with GIST Cancer UK)
Engineering ‘cancer bursting’ viruses for sarcoma led by Dr Fiona Errington-Mais, at University of Leeds
Improving radiotherapy for children with sarcoma led by Dr Marianne Aznar at University of Manchester
Shining a light on sarcoma: an innovative treatment led by Dr Daniel Payne at Open University
Understanding and predicting drug resistance in GIST led by Dr Matthew Rose-Zerilli at University of Southampton
Development of Natural Killer cell immunotherapy for GIST led by Dr Matthew Blunt, at University of Southampton (funded in collaboration with GIST Cancer UK)
Tackling the ways that sarcoma cells escape immunotherapy to make these treatments more effective led by Dr Carmela de Santo at University of Birmingham
For more information about these projects or to learn how you can support Sarcoma UK’s vital research programme, please visit our website or sign up for our E-news email newsletter.
