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”.
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 disease. Indeed, AML current therapies are associated with high rate of relapse (30%) and poor prognosis (only 30-40% of patients survive)[1] due to their incapability to eradicate Leukaemic Stem Cells (LSCs).LSCs are responsible for AML initiation and progression and are refractory to conventional treatments. Therefore, new therapeutic options capable of targeting AML-blasts and -LSCs are urgently needed. A promising approach is offered by immunotherapy with autologous T-cells genetically engineered to express a Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR).
This strategy has shown outstanding results with anti-CD19 CAR-T in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL). In contrast to ALL, AML displays an extensive phenotypic and cellular heterogeneity which challenges CAR-T cell therapy exploitation. So far, CAR-T cells have been generated mainly against CD123 and CD33, two antigens highly expressed on AML-blasts. However, this has had mixed results and so it is necessary to identify surface antigens expressed specifically on AML-LSCs rather than normal HSCs.
The purpose of this project is to identify novel therapeutic targets in relapsed/refractory paediatric AML in order to improve patient outcome through the design of new effective CAR-T cell approaches.
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 …