Research at the Centre
The CCIC is conducting research into many aspects of Cancer Imaging, from basic research through to clinical trials, underpinned by cutting edge technology and resources. Our research groups are broadly divided into nine Research Programmes.
Theme 1 – Preclinical Imaging
Aims
Study and monitor fundamental pathological processes affecting a wide range of cancers, e.g. tumour angiogenesis and hypoxia, cancer stem cells and immune targeting / evasion.
Serve as a link in the translational pipeline.
Provide proof of principle demonstration of new imaging technologies and molecular imaging agents.
Theme research topics
Multimodality imaging studies of hypoxia and its implications for tumour pathogenesis and treatment.
Comprehensive multimodality approach to development and evaluation of PET, MR and optical imaging methods for cell tracking in cancer applications.
Theme leads
Professor Barbara Pedley
Professor Arnie Purushotham
Professor Tobias Schaeffter
Theme 2 – Clinical Imaging
Aims
Map the phenotype of disease.
Assess response to treatment and progression.
Link imaging phenotype with potential therapeutic targets.
Theme research topics
Kaposi sarcoma: development of integrin targeting labelled peptides.
Two novel probes (DOTA-NOC and DOTA-exendin-4) for PET/CT imaging in patients with GEP-NET.
Theme leads
Professor Peter Ell
Dr Michael O’Doherty
Theme 3 – Clinical Trials
Aims
Comparison and cross validation of multimodal methods for imaging regional hypoxia in tumours.
To use imaging biomarkers such as FDG PET and FLT PET as imaging biomarkers for assessment of efficacy in clinical trials.
Theme research topics
Clinical imaging of hypoxia.
Assessment of efficacy using PET in clinical trials.
Theme leads
Professor Richard Begent
Dr James Spicer
Theme 4 – Optical Imaging and Tissue Banking
Aims
To collect and archive pathological material from patients who are involved in the interventional clinical studies within the CCIC.
To perform FRET/FLIM assays on specific molecular interactions and modifications that can be used as markers for predicting the efficacy of specific interventions.
To correlate molecular interaction / modifications with PET imaging data before and after treatment.
Theme research topics
Correlating ErbB(1/3) expression and phosphorylation/ubiquitination in tissues with PET imaging data in clinical studies of specific EGFR and dual EGFR/ErbB2 inhibition.
Theme leads
Professor Sarah Pinder
Professor Tony Ng
Theme 5 – Image Guided Interventions
Aims
To develop and apply diagnostic imaging for cancer detection and planning procedures.
To develop technologies for therapy delivery.
To develop interventional imaging technologies and tracking technologies to guide and monitor therapy.
Advanced computational modelling of anatomy and disease processes.
Study compensation for tissue deformation, respiratory and cardiac induced motion.
Theme research topics
Image Directed Radiotherapy of the Lung.
Image guided resection of glioma avoiding eloquent areas using a novel combined iMR, x-ray angio and navigation facility.
CT Guided Polyp Resection During Colonoscopy.
Theme Leads
Professor Paul Marsden
Professor David Hawkes
Theme 5 – Image Guided Interventions
Aims
To develop and apply diagnostic imaging for cancer detection and planning procedures.
To develop technologies for therapy delivery.
To develop interventional imaging technologies and tracking technologies to guide and monitor therapy.
Advanced computational modelling of anatomy and disease processes.
Study compensation for tissue deformation, respiratory and cardiac induced motion.
Theme research topics
Image Directed Radiotherapy of the Lung.
Image guided resection of glioma avoiding eloquent areas using a novel combined iMR, x-ray angio and navigation facility.
CT Guided Polyp Resection During Colonoscopy.
Theme Leads
Professor Paul Marsden
Professor David Hawkes