Professor Yaohe Wang is a cancer cell and gene therapist who has spent more than two decades developing novel biological approaches for the treatment of cancer. Based at the Barts Cancer Institute, his research has focused on tumour-targeted replicating oncolytic viruses and the development of innovative viral therapeutics designed to selectively attack cancer cells while stimulating anti-tumour immunity. His research has received sustained support from major UK funding organisations, including the Medical Research Council (MRC), Wellcome Trust and Cancer Research UK (CRUK) etc., with a substantial track record of publications in prestigious scientific journals such as “Nature Biotechnology”, “The Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI)”, “Gut”, and “Nature Communications”, etc.

Over the course of his academic career, Professor Wang has taken discoveries from the laboratory through preclinical development and into clinical-stage biotechnology programmes, providing him with first-hand experience of the challenges involved in translating academic science into medicines. He has also been involved in establishing and developing a university spin-out, navigating the many stages between scientific discovery, intellectual property, company formation, fundraising, product development, manufacturing, regulatory strategy, and clinical translation.

In this talk, Professor Wang will share his personal experience of the journey from academic scientist to biotech founder—including the excitement of seeing scientific ideas become real product that has cured cancer patients, as well as the frustrations, unexpected challenges and lessons learned along the way.

Professor Yaohe Wang – Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London

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(Image: Dr James Nicholson, QMUL, Dr Nekisa Zakeri, QMUL, Dr Jayant Rane, UCLH, Prof Erik Sahai, Crick, Dr Rafael T. M. de Rosales, KCL, Dr Luigi Ombrato, QMUL)

A huge congratulations to all our Seed and Development Fund awardees, each receiving up to £25,000 to launch innovative pump-priming projects. Here is a insight to some of these projects;

Radiotherapy-induced epigenetic selection in glioblastoma recurrence

Glioblastoma is an aggressive brain tumour that almost invariably recurs after radiotherapy, yet shows surprisingly little evidence of genetic evolution during treatment. Dr Nicholson’s project tests a new model: that recurrence is driven not by genetic mutations, but by the selection of pre‑existing, heritable epigenetic cell states that are intrinsically resistant to radiation.

They will use single‑cell DNA methylation sequencing to profile thousands of tumour cells from matched primary and recurrent glioblastoma samples, alongside patient‑derived tumour models exposed to clinically relevant radiotherapy. This will identify rare epigenetic subpopulations present before treatment and track how they expand under therapeutic pressure. By integrating these data with spatial transcriptomics, the team will map where resistant cell states reside within the tumour microenvironment. Finally, they will test the clinical relevance of these signatures in a validation cohort of >1,000 bulk glioblastoma methylation profiles. Ultimately this project aims to inform the future development of rational combination therapies that target resistant populations and improve patient response to radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy-induced tumour priming to enhance gamma delta T cell immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with limited effective therapeutic options for advanced disease. Dr Zakeri’s project investigates novel combination treatment approaches integrating radiation-induced tumour priming with gamma delta T cell immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Using 3D patient-derived tumour models, the team will study the mechanisms by which radiotherapy impacts on tumour susceptibility to gamma delta T cell-mediated killing and remodels the tumour microenvironment.

Radiotherapy-induced regulatory T cell reprogramming and its impact on lung metastasis

Radiotherapy is one of the most powerful tools in cancer treatment, routinely used to control primary tumours. Yet its effects are not confined to the tumour itself: radiotherapy can reshape the immune system, with consequences across the body that remain unclear. Dr Ombrato’s project addresses a key unanswered question: how does radiotherapy to the breast influence the immune environment in distant organs such as the lung, a common site of metastatic disease? Using preclinical models, his team has identified systemic immune changes following treatment, including shifts in regulatory T cells (Tregs), which play a central role in controlling immune responses.

They will now investigate how these radiotherapy-induced immune alterations affect the behaviour of disseminated cancer cells in the lung. By uncovering the underlying biology, this work aims to inform the development of more effective treatment strategies that combine radiotherapy with immune-targeting approaches, ultimately helping to optimise cancer therapy in the context of metastatic disease.

Microenvironmental determinants of chemo-radiotherapy response in EOCRC

Colorectal cancer is increasingly being diagnosed in adults under 50, and some younger patients have poorer outcomes than expected despite being fit enough to receive intensive treatment. Dr Rane’s project asks whether the tissue surrounding these cancers helps explain this problem. Rather than studying cancer cells alone, they will recreate patient-derived tumour ecosystems in the laboratory, including cancer cells and key support and immune cells that can make tumours inflamed, scar-like and harder for treatment to penetrate. His team will use these models to study why early-onset bowel and rectal cancers may respond differently to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, including modern radiotherapy approaches. The aim is to generate evidence that helps doctors identify which patients need different treatment strategies, and to support future clinical trials designed to improve cure rates while preserving long-term quality of life for younger patients and families.

To read about our other Seed and Development fund projects click below;

Seed Funding
Development Funding

The post Congratulation to all our 2026 Seed and Development Fund Awardees appeared first on CRUK RadNet.

Speaker: Dr Graeme Hewitt, King’s College London
Date: Wednesday 8^th July 2026 at 9.30am with tea, coffee and light breakfast.
Location: Large Seminar Room, Innovation Hub, Guy’s Cancer Centre, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 1UL
Registration: Click Here to register

Dr Kelly Sheehan-rooney will also be available if anyone would like to query about fellowships applications and other career opportunities.

Optional tour available of the Guys Campus. (15min)

Biography: Dr Graeme Hewitt is a CRUK RadNet Junior Group Leader in the Comprehensive Cancer Centre at King’s College London, where his research focuses on DNA damage response mechanisms and their application in cancer therapy and radiotherapy sensitisation. His work combines functional genomics, proteomics and advanced cell biology approaches to identify new therapeutic vulnerabilities in cancer.

Graeme completed his undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science at Newcastle University before undertaking a PhD in the biology of ageing, awarded in 2016. His doctoral research investigated the interplay between autophagy and DNA double-strand break repair, for which he received the Newcastle University Medical Sciences Doctoral Thesis Prize.

Following his PhD, he carried out postdoctoral research at The Francis Crick Institute in the laboratory of Simon Boulton, where he studied DNA damage response pathways and chromatin remodelling in cancer. During this time, he was also seconded to Artios Pharma in Cambridge, contributing to the development of high-throughput screening assays for novel DNA damage response targets.

Since establishing his independent research group at King’s College London in 2021, Graeme has built a growing and collaborative team focused on understanding how cancer cells respond to DNA damage and radiation therapy. His group now consists of six PhD students and a research technician. He maintains strong collaborations with industry partners including ARTBIO, AstraZeneca and Artios Pharma, helping to translate discoveries in DNA damage response biology into new therapeutic strategies. Dr Hewitt is also embedded within the Cancer Research UK City of London Research Centre, where he serves as a member of the discovery training team as well as maintaining research collaborations across the network spanning functional genetics, radiation biology and assay development.

The post Career Building Series: ‘How to build a Research Group’ appeared first on CRUK RadNet.

We are pleased to host the first scientific discussion and tour of the Total Body PET Facility at King’s College London. 

The event will offer an opportunity to:

• Learn about the facility and its capabilities
• Find out how to access the facility
• Take a guided tour
• Network with colleagues over lunch, tea, and coffee.

Date: Thursday 11 June 2026 | 12:00–5:00 pm
Venue:  London Institute for Healthcare Engineering (LIHE)
100 Lambeth Palace Road, London, SE1 7AR

Proposed Agenda:

12pm Lunch
1pm Introduction to the facility by Professor Stephen Archibald
3pm Refreshment break
3.30pm talks by Professors Simon Cherry, Gary Cook and Tim Witney.
4.30pm Tour of facility

Register now

Deadline to Register 8th June 2026.

The post Scientific Discussions and Tour of Total Body PET Facility appeared first on CRUK RadNet.

Join us to learn from Dr Kelly Sheehan‑Rooney on what funders are looking for and hear first hand from Dr Ivana Bjedov on her journey to becoming a CRUK Fellow.

Dr Kelly Sheehan‑Rooney is a research funding and training specialist with extensive experience supporting early‑career researchers. She is currently a Strategic Research Development Manager at King’s College London, where she works across the cancer research community to advance strategic initiatives, strengthen collaborations with partners such as the CRUK City of London Centre and the Radiation Research Centre, and support major funding efforts.

Previously, Kelly led the EMBO Fellowship Programme, overseeing its €24M annual portfolio and supporting more than 550 postdoctoral fellows each year, alongside developing new schemes and strategic projects that enhanced global early‑career researcher development. She has also held fellowship and training roles at Imperial College London and Cancer Research UK.

Dr Ivana Bjedov earned a BSc degree in Molecular Biology form University of Zagreb, Croatia. She did her PhD at the University Pierre and Marie Curie in Paris, in the laboratory of Prof. Miroslav Radman, where she learned about DNA repair in E. coli. Her interest in ageing research started when she moved to University College London, where she was a postdoctoral EMBO fellow in the laboratory of Prof. Dame Linda Partridge.

Her postdoc was focused on understanding how to manipulate the mTOR pathway with rapamycin to improve health and extend lifespan in Drosophila. She joined UCL Cancer Institute upon obtaining ERC Starting Grant and her laboratory is interested in protein synthesis and DNA repair. Recently she became part of the CRUK RadNet City of London network and was awarded a CRUK Senior Fellowship

Register by Friday 27th February 2026

The post Career Building Series: Fellowship Application Workshop appeared first on CRUK RadNet.

Welcoming Four New Postdoctoral Researchers to the CRUK City of London Radiation Research Centre

The CRUK City of London Radiation Research Centre is delighted to welcome four outstanding postdoctoral researchers who are joining us to advance the centre’s vital scientific goals. Their arrival marks an exciting period of growth and reflects our commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders in radiation science. Each brings unique expertise that will strengthen our collaborative research community, and we look forward to the discoveries their work will help drive.

Dr Marti Brucoli – Queen Mary University of London

Dr Marti Brucoli joins the centre at Queen Mary University of London, where he will work with Dr Luigi Ombrato to identify immune cell subpopulations and molecular signatures associated with metastasis formation. His research aims to deepen understanding of how metastatic tumours develop and spread. Marti completed his PhD in Cancer Studies at the University of Glasgow.

Dr Harriet Roddy – University College London (UCL)

Based at UCL, Dr Harriet Roddy will work with Dr Claire Roddie to investigate how combining CAR T cell therapy with radiotherapy could improve outcomes in solid tumours. Her work explores an emerging therapeutic frontier with significant potential for clinical impact. Harriet received her PhD in Cancer Immunotherapy from UCL.

Dr George Firth – King’s College London (KCL)

Dr George Firth joins King’s College London to work with Dr Cinzia Imberti on uncovering new mechanisms of radiation resistance. His research focuses on the role of intracellular manganese (Mn)—an essential cofactor of the enzyme superoxide dismutase—in driving antioxidant capacity within cells. George completed his PhD in Medical Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering at KCL.

Dr Isaline Renard – King’s College London (KCL)

Also based at KCL, Dr Isaline Renard will work with Professor Stephen Archibald to develop and evaluate novel radiopharmaceutical platforms for cancer imaging and targeted molecular radiotherapy. Her work will contribute to advancing precision tools for diagnosis and treatment.

The post Meet our new Postdoctoral Researchers appeared first on CRUK RadNet.

(Image: Prof Chris Tape, Dr Grace Cooksley, Dr Graeme Hewitt, Prof Jane Sosabowski, Dr Claire Roddie, Prof Francesca Ciccarelli)

A huge congratulations to all our Seed and Development Fund awardees, each receiving up to £25,000 to launch innovative pump-priming projects. Here is a insight to some of these projects;

Radiosensitising Rectal Cancer via Stem Cell Transdetermination

Prof Chris Tape’s project aims to enhance radiotherapy effectiveness in rectal cancer by reversing stem cell resistance. Current treatments only fully benefit ~15% of patients. Researchers discovered that colorectal cancer stem cells exist on a spectrum—from sensitive (proCSC) to resistant (revCSC)—and that cancer-associated fibroblasts can drive this shift via PI3K and YAP signalling changes.  The project will test whether targeted therapies can reprogram resistant revCSC cells back into sensitive proCSC states. Using patient-derived organoids and advanced single-cell analysis, the team will map treatment-induced changes in stem cell behaviour. This work will uncover patient-specific vulnerabilities and guide future development of stem cell–focused radiosensitisation strategies.

Modelling radiation-resistance in high-grade gliomas

Dr Grace Cooksley’s project looks at radiotherapy resistance, which is the leading cause of mortality in high grade glioma patients. Biopsies of patients post-treatment are rare, hindering our understanding of treatment response and tumour relapse. the project proposes to using our cancer-organoid and microglia co-culture system, to model radiotherapy resistance and to monitor cell behaviour and biology such as microglia’ cellular senescence, potentially contributing to poor treatment response and tumour regrowth.

Develop CRISPRa Screening Platform for Radiotherapy Resistance

Dr Graeme Hewitt and Dr Kasper Fugger will be looking to develop an advanced CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) screening platform. The initiative targets a major challenge in cancer treatment: resistance to ionising radiation (IR). While CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screens have illuminated how gene loss contributes to radio-resistance, this project focuses on gene upregulation—where increased gene activity helps tumors evade therapy. By building a high-throughput CRISPRa pipeline, the team aims to identify genes whose activation drives IR resistance and uncover new, druggable targets. This approach bridges a critical gap in functional genomics and paves the way for more personalized, effective radiotherapy strategies.

To read about our other Seed and Development fund projects click below;

Seed Funding
Development Funding

The post Congratulation to all our Seed and Development Fund Awardees appeared first on CRUK RadNet.

Philippa joined the CRUK CoL Radiation Research Centre at the beginning of May as our Patient Public Involvement Coordinator.

Welcome! Tell us a bit about your professional background.

Over the past 18 or so years I’ve straddled the worlds of research (both academic and pharma), public engagement and healthcare communications. I come from a science background but my love of visual arts and its role in public health and science engagement has been a constant influence throughout my life.

I gained my Ph.D. in 2011 at Imperial College London looking into the mechanisms behind nerve-damage from HIV. I then returned to the College in 2017 as a post-doctoral researcher with the Patient Experience Research Centre. It was here that I gained my understanding of Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement (PPIE), which I studied alongside exploring expectations and experiences of cure among people living with hepatitis C. Of course, come March 2020, all efforts were diverted to supporting the Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which really put our PPIE skills to the test. We had little time to plan or prepare. But, like so often is true, it’s amazing what can be achieved when you come together.

Beyond the research side, I’ve also spent a large part of my career focussed on healthcare communications; something I’m particularly passionate about. Having worked as a copywriter and strategist across healthcare advertising, exhibitions and most recently medical education and clinical trials, I’ve come to realise just how important it is to create (or better still, co-create) clear, trusted and user-friendly materials, whether they’re for the public, patients or even researchers and healthcare professionals.

This is a new role for the Radiation Research Centre. What would you like people to know?

My main aim is to amplify the great engagement activity that’s already in motion, and to expand the breadth and depth of patient involvement across the Centre’s world-class radiation research and therapeutic advances.

More people are becoming aware of the term patient involvement, and some people are already doing some fantastic work in this space. But we often wish we could do more. There may also be those who are less familiar or experienced about what it means. I’m here to help everyone embed the value that people with lived experience can bring to their work, whatever the type or stage of their research.

I’m also hugely passionate about EDI so key priorities will be around creating clear communications and inclusive opportunities to enable more people from any background to play a role in how research is designed, developed or delivered.

And finally, you will always find an understanding ear with me. I’ve been there myself. I’ve led patient/public involvement in my own research, so I know and understand the challenges that you often face. But whatever the challenge, there’s usually a solution and I’m here to help.

If any of this resonates with you or you’re interested to learn more about involving or engaging patients, please do get in touch: p.pristera@ucl.ac.uk. You can also connect with me on LinkedIn.

What do you do when you’re not working?

I have two young girls aged seven and two who keep me and my husband on our toes. We live in a small village called Shepreth just south of Cambridge. It doesn’t have a shop, but it does have a wildlife park, so you’ll often find us there looking at the animals (sometimes) or monkeying around in the soft play area (most times).

We’re also about to embark on a house renovation project so much of my ‘other’ time is focused on that. It taps into my childhood dream of being an architect though, so I secretly love it.

Beyond that, I may be found tending to our unwieldy garden and continuing my attempt to learn Italian so I can communicate better with my husband’s side of the family.

The post Welcoming our new Patient Involvement Coordinator, Philippa appeared first on CRUK RadNet.

Congratulations to the following students on the completion of their PhDs

Sophie Langdon from Kings College London whose PhD examined combinations of precision radiotherapy with immunotherapy for the treatment of head and neck cancers, under the supervision of Dr Samantha Terry (KCL) and Dr Tammy Kalber (UCL).

Rhyla Mae Santiagio from University College London passed her PhD project, “Radiation Resistance – understanding the role of cancer stem cell quiescence in glioblastoma radioresistance”. Her supervisors were Professors Simona Parrinello (UCL) and Simon Boulton (Crick).

Kerstin Thol from University College London whose project looked at “Harnessing Whole Genome Sequencing Technologies to Elucidate Lung Cancer Evolution” was supervised by Professor Nicky McGranahan (UCL) and Dr Crispin Hiley (UCL). Kerstin has now secured a post doc position in Dr Sohrab Shah’s lab at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York.

Rebecca Drake from Bart Cancer Institute at Queen Mary University of London whose work focused on enhancing sensitisation to radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer. Leading the collaboration between her primary supervisor Prof Kairbaan Hodivala-Dilke (BCI) and secondary supervisor Dr Simon Boulton (Crick), Becca has investigated the mechanisms of resistance to radiotherapy treatment within the tumour microenvironment, with a focus on angiocrine signalling.

Ryan Fullerton from University College London completed his project on ‘Improving the accuracy of Particle Therapy in lung cancer through the development of integrated-mode particle imaging technology’. Ryan was supervised by Dr Charles-Antoine Collins-Fekete who commented: “Through his PhD, Ryan has been developing a one-of-its-kind proton imaging detector to be applied to lung therapy with the new proton therapy centre at UCLH. His PhD led him to bring his detector across many countries, to visit multiple proton/carbon centres around the world, and have attracted the eyes of multiple potential partners to bring his realisation to the clinic.”

The post Congratulations to all our students who have completed their PhDs appeared first on CRUK RadNet.

The Cancer Research UK City of London Radiation Research Centre of Excellence has today (Wednesday 30 October) set out its future strategic priorities. It has received renewed funding of £5.9 million from Cancer Research UK, to add to £12 million leveraged from partners including the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Wellcome Trust, and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), as well as the Barts Charity and Guy’s Cancer Charity.

The new funding will allow the Centre to continue its world-class research, with areas of focus including the biological understanding of radiation resistance, investigating new radiation drug combinations, and developing new clinical trials. By growing its portfolio of clinical trials, the Centre will pursue its “bench to bedside” pipeline, prioritising cancers of unmet need.

Dr Simon Boulton, Director of the CRUK City of London Radiation Research Centre of Excellence and Principal Group Leader at The Francis Crick Institute, said:

“We are very grateful to Cancer Research UK for their continued support of our cross-institutional initiative to evolve and improve radiotherapy treatments for the benefit of cancer patients.

“This commitment, together with leveraged funds from our institutions, local charities and industry partners, will allow us to build on the remarkable success of the first five years of RadNet.”

The CRUK City of London Radiation Research Centre of Excellence was established in 2019 and brings together researchers from Barts Cancer Institute (Queen Mary University of London), King’s College London, University College London and The Francis Crick Institute.

During its first five years, the CRUK City of London Radiation Research Centre of Excellence has contributed to seven new clinical trials. Among others, these include RELIEF, a phase III trial investigating the use of the OptiFibre prebiotic in preventing radiation enteropathy in prostate cancer, and HIT-Meso, a phase III trial looking at the use of Hemithoracic irradiation with proton therapy in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

The Centre has embraced Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement, carrying out over ninety activities aimed at inspiring and informing, consulting and collaborating with patients with lived experience of radiotherapy. Its audience will now expand to include family, friends, and carers through activities such as showcasing research at events, and hosting lab tours and career talks for schoolchildren.

So far, Cancer Research UK has invested over £42 million in its radiotherapy network. Increasing understanding of the underpinning biological mechanisms in radiotherapy, and how best to apply and deliver it, is a priority for the charity.

Dr Iain Foulkes, Executive Director of Research and Innovation at Cancer Research UK, said:

“Cancer Research UK, and its predecessors, have been at the forefront of radiation research for the past 120 years. Thanks to research, radiotherapy treatment is becoming kinder, more precise and less intensive across different cancers.

“This funding marks a new phase of our RadNet network, advancing research which will further accelerate improvements in radiotherapy treatment in the clinic. This funding will work alongside our investments in pioneering radiotherapy clinical trials to ensure more people can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.”

 Professor Maria Hawkins, Clinical Director of the CRUK City of London Radiation Research Centre of Excellence and Radiation Oncologist at UCL, said:

“We’re so proud to have established the UK’s largest group of early career biologists to apply their knowledge to studying radiation, but our ambitions do not stop there.

“Our renewed funding will see ongoing innovation in our research areas and collaboration with the NHS and industry, as well as a renewed focus on patient impact and building sustainability through supporting early career researchers.”

The Centre has a focus on building sustainable career paths in radiotherapy. It has successfully recruited outstanding scientists and clinicians and provided seed funding, PhD student appointments, mentoring, and access to cutting-edge technologies.

Dr Ivana Bjedov, CRUK Senior Cancer Research Fellow, said:

“The Centre has been crucial in my career development, providing the funding that helped me pursue interesting findings in radioprotection, and connecting me with the clinicians, radiologists and experts in DNA repair who helped spark new ideas.

“I’m delighted by this new funding, and excited to see the Centre start tackling the next big challenges, such as exploring combinations with immunotherapy or furthering our understanding of Proton Beam Therapy.”

The post Cancer Research UK City of London Radiation Research Centre of Excellence looks to the future with £18 million funding appeared first on CRUK RadNet.