Our objective
The Olivia Hodson Cancer Fund’s objective is to provide, “Support for research and clinical advancements within the departments of Oncology, Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplant at Great Ormond Street Hospital”.
Delivering rapid and efficient genetic screening for bone marrow failure syndromes
A new, more efficient method of DNA sequencing will help ICH scientists quickly identify causes of bone marrow failure syndromes.
Bone marrow failure (aplasia) describes the appearance of bone marrow in children whose blood is deficient in red and white blood cells and platelets. There are a number of different inherited syndromes associated with bone marrow failure, making it difficult for clinicians to provide parents with a clear diagnosis or information about the progression and potential outcome of their child’s illness.
With accurate identification of the genetic basis for a patient’s bone marrow failure, doctors can:
- develop early management and surveillance plans,
- target appropriate and timely therapy,
- counsel families if there is a future risk of leukaemia or other cancers,
- provide genetic counselling for the family and future siblings and
- collect essential information to support a successful stem cell transplant.
OHCF funds will enable staff at the Genetics & Genomic Medicine programme at the Institute of Child Health to develop a process that utilises new, more efficient genetic screening methods to target large numbers of genes at a time and return data much faster. It is hoped that within 12 months their test will be ready to put into practice, and will eventually made available to clinicians via the NHS.
Projects
Research into drug repositioning for treatment of rare brain tumours
Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) is a heterogeneous blood cancer that accounts for 15-20% of all paediatric acute leukaemia cases. Despite it's low incidence in children, it is a life-threatening …Identification of novel surface antigen targets for CAR T cell strategies in paediatric Acute Myeloid Leukaemia stem cells
Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) is a heterogeneous blood cancer that accounts for 15-20% of all paediatric acute leukaemia cases. Despite it's low incidence in children, it is a life-threatening …
Reducing Stress and empowering children undergoing operations with the use of Lip balms on breathing masks.
It has been found that by providing children with a choice of flavoured lip balms to put onto their breathing masks before undergoing operations is beneficial in many ways.
Toward drug repurposing in epigenetics: Targeting histone modifications as a novel approach for a selective treatment for DIPG.
Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a very aggressive tumour that mostly affect young children and is the main cause of brain tumour death in children. Mutations that cause …
Identifying the needs of childhood cancer survivors as they approach adulthood
An OHCF-funded study will help healthcare professionals at GOSH understand the ongoing needs of children who have survived cancer, thereby improving the care they receive as they enter adolescence.
Characterising novel therapeutic targets for neuroblastoma
OHCF is supporting significant research into potential new therapies for this very serious form of childhood cancer.
Delivering rapid and efficient genetic screening for bone marrow failure syndromes
A new, more efficient method of DNA sequencing will help ICH scientists quickly identify causes of bone marrow failure syndromes.
Understanding more about relapse in young patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Funds donated by OHCF will enable haematologists at GOSH use a form of DNA sequencing to help them treat and prevent relapse of a common childhood cancer.
Evaluating expanded tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in children’s solid cancers
A pilot study by the Institute for Child Health aims to understand how a treatment that has generated a response in some adult cancer patients might also have a …