A gut feeling for cancer treatment
14 October 2019
The bacteria that inhabit our gut – the gut microbiome - could have profound impact on our health. The species that live in our guts influence the development of neurodegenerative disease (Alzheimer disease, Parkinson’s disease), epilepsy, autoimmune disease, and cancer.4 They may also be helping shape whether our treatments work.
Exploring promising approaches for colorectal cancer
24 September 2019
On World Cancer Research Day, Sylvana talks about research into colorectal cancer, one of the most common cancers in the world.
In the right place …
When people don’t know they’ve supported your work, how do you say ‘Thank you!’? Obviously, you can hold a celebration event. Publicise widely, invite people in. Sweeten the offer with nibbles?
Two worlds collide – dark and light blue worlds meet.
In my spare time, I work for the RAF Air Cadets as a volunteer instructor. It’s challenging, rewarding and fun, but it’s not often that the light blue of the RAF is seen on the Old Road Campus.
Chocolate is not just for eating – it can be inspiring
6 June 2019
Engaging people with our science is a job for all. We have some amazing people in Oncology and some of them are not afraid to get out of their comfort zone. In this blog, Roxy Peerless, from our finance group, shows once again that public engagement is not just for scientists.
Oncology Open Day
16 May 2019
On Wednesday the 3rd of April 2019, myself and 30 other students, from Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School, attended the Oxford University Oncology Open Day at the Cancer Research Centre, Oxford.
Coaching confidence in communication
10 April 2019
How do we attract tomorrow’s brightest research students? Step 1: Make sure they know we exist. We don’t teach undergraduates; you can’t study oncology at A’ level. We need to give them a chance to explore how physics can cure cancer. How biology leads us to a better understanding of cancer, and how chemistry helps us design imaging agents that will guide therapy choices.
Chocolate inspires next generation of scientists
27 March 2019
When Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s book character Charlie Bucket buys a Wonka bar and finds the final golden ticket, he starts his now famous journey of discovery at Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. Charlie, like most children, loves chocolate and his visit to the factory not only indulges his passion but also inspires deep scientific curiosity. In the end, the boy’s humility and desire for discovery convinces Wonka to name Charlie as his successor.
And yet, it moves!
Galileo is said to have muttered ‘E pur, si muove!’ – ‘And yet, it moves’ as he left the courtroom in which he had been forced to concede that the sun moved round a fixed earth. Today, these words could be used to under-pin the value of MR-Linacs in radiotherapy.
No cure for cancer; just cures
28 February 2019
The cure for cancer, often hailed as the holy grail of medical research; something everyone is searching for and no one is finding, doesn’t actually exist.