Matt Jackson recognised as 2026 JING Cohort Study Idea Winner
3 February 2026
Congratulations to Matt Jackson, who was selected as a 2026 JING Cohort Study Idea Winner at the Junior Investigator Network Group (JING) Training the Next Generation event, held in Manchester last month.
New clinical study launched examining the role of insulin in breast cancer treatment response
28 January 2026
A new clinical study has launched to investigate whether insulin levels influence how women with the most common type of breast cancer respond to treatment.
OVM-200: Phase Ia Results of Novel Survivin Cancer Vaccine
23 January 2026
Researchers from the Jiang Group in the Department of Oncology have published Phase Ia clinical trial results for OVM-200, a novel cancer vaccine targeting survivin. The first-in-human trial, published in eClinicalMedicine, reports promising early safety and immunogenicity findings in patients with advanced solid tumours.
Kendra Perez-Smith receives Outstanding Contribution to Sustainability Award
17 December 2025
The Department of Oncology is proud to share that Kendra Perez-Smith, Translational Support Unit (TSU) Manager, has received an Outstanding Contribution to Sustainability Award in recognition of her innovation and leadership in establishing Lab QuTe: a department-wide network designed to reduce the environmental impact of clinical trials.
Oxford-Built Multi-Agent assistant for Cancer Care to be piloted in collaboration with Microsoft
16 December 2025
Researchers at the Department of Oncology have developed TrustedMDT, a multi-agent artificial intelligence (AI) system designed to support medical specialists during cancer treatment planning meetings.
New Study to Investigate How Immunometabolism Shapes Treatment Responses in Pancreatic Cancer
3 December 2025
Keaton Jones, Consultant Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgeon at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Senior Clinical Researcher in the Department of Oncology at the University of Oxford, has received a Wellcome Trust Early Career Award to investigate the role of macrophage metabolism in determining therapeutic responses in pancreatic cancer.
Professor Sarah Blagden shares cutting-edge precision prevention research at Oxford in new Channel 4 Documentary
21 November 2025
Over the past year, Professor Blagden has been filming for Cancer Detectives: Finding the Cures, a new three-part documentary series from Channel 4 which follows three scientists on the front lines of cancer research across the UK.
In Memory of Professor Grigory Dianov
19 November 2025
We are saddened to share the news of the passing of Emeritus Professor Grigory Dianov earlier this month. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. Prof. Grigory Dianov was the Head of Biochemistry at the CRUK/MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology within the Department of Oncology until 2018. He made major contributions to the mechanistic understanding of DNA base excision repair and the maintenance of genome stability.
World’s first lung cancer prevention vaccine gets £2 million for clinical trial
17 November 2025
People at high risk of lung cancer will soon be able to receive the first-ever experimental vaccine, 'LungVax', designed to prevent the disease, in a world-first clinical trial. The LungVax vaccine carries a series of genetic instructions which train the immune system to recognise tumour antigens on the surface of abnormal lung cells.
Oxford joins £15.9m national initiative to transform cancer research using live human tissue models
11 November 2025
Oxford scientists are part of a new £15.9 million UK initiative to transform disease research through the development of advanced human tissue models. The INTREPID project will evaluate and optimise the use of live human tumour samples to enhance the accuracy of preclinical research, speed up drug discovery, and reduce dependence on animal testing.
Oxford Oncology at ESMO 2025
27 October 2025
Members of the Department of Oncology attended ESMO earlier this month to present their research, chair sessions, and network with collaborators from across Europe and beyond. Read the highlights from our department’s contributions to ESMO 2025.
Celebrating Excellence: MSc Prize Winners 2024–25
17 October 2025
The 2024-25 academic year has drawn to a close and we are saying goodbye to an exceptional cohort of students across our MSc programmes. In particular, we would like to congratulate our course prize winners from the MSc in Applied Cancer Science, MSc in Medical Physics with Radiobiology, MSc in Radiobiology, and MSc in Precision Cancer Medicine who achieved the highest marks this year. Many congratulations to Maria, Jack, Carla, and Yael on this outstanding achievement. We are confident that they have impressive futures ahead as leaders in the field of oncology. Read on to learn more about their research journeys and where they are headed next.
Professor Sarah Blagden to star in New Landmark Channel 4 Documentary Series 'Cancer Detectives: Finding the Cures'
16 October 2025
Channel 4 today announces 'Cancer Detectives: Finding the Cures', an observational documentary series that will explore the pioneering research that could transform the future of cancer detection, treatment and prevention.
Dr Peter Wan Awarded Pancreatic Cancer UK Fellowship to Develop New Immunotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer
9 October 2025
Dr Peter Kok-Ting Wan, PhD, postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Oncology, has been awarded a prestigious fellowship from Pancreatic Cancer UK to develop a new immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer, which has the lowest survival rate of any common cancer. The project seeks to develop a novel antibody-based treatment that targets both the cancer cells and the dense, protective barrier that makes pancreatic tumours so difficult to treat.
Iron Levels Found to Play a Key Role in FLASH Radiotherapy’s Tissue-Sparing Effect
11 September 2025
Researchers in the Department of Oncology have uncovered new insights into how FLASH radiation therapy kills cancer cells while minimising damage to healthy tissues. Published in Cell Death & Disease, the study shows the key role of iron levels in FLASH radiotherapy's tissue-sparing effect.
Dr Matthew Jackson Awarded Pump-Priming Funding through Medical Sciences Division
18 August 2025
Matthew Jackson, postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Oncology, has been awarded his first project grant through the Medical Sciences Internal Fund Pump-Priming Scheme. This award will allow Matt to build on initial findings from his doctoral research, investigating the fundamental cell biology of CD8+ T cells.
Dr Elizabeth Smyth elected ESMO Director of Education
15 August 2025
Dr Elizabeth Smyth has been elected as Director of Education for the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), the leading professional organisation for medical oncologists in Europe. In this role, Dr Smyth will be responsible for shaping and overseeing an inclusive, forward-looking educational strategy that supports oncologists worldwide.
Oxford Clinical Researcher Awarded NIHR EME Funding to Study Impact of Insulin Levels on Breast Cancer Treatment Response
29 July 2025
Associate Professor Simon Lord has been awarded funding from the NIHR to launch a clinical study investigating the impact of insulin resistance on response to endocrine therapy in patients with oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer.
Scientists reveal how cells repair toxic DNA damage linked to cancer and premature ageing
21 July 2025
Researchers at the University of Oxford and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore have uncovered the mechanism by which cells identify and repair a highly toxic form of DNA damage that causes cancer, neurodegeneration, and premature ageing.
Oxford Cancer launches 2025 OCION Funding Scheme
13 June 2025
The 2025 Oxford Cancer Immuno-Oncology Network (OCION) Funding Scheme is now open!