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Global biopharma company GSK invests up to £50 million in a collaboration with Oxford to advance the understanding of how cancer develops, which could inform future development of vaccines to prevent cancer.

A researcher pipetting samples in a flow hood.

The agreement establishes the GSK-Oxford Cancer Immuno-Prevention Programme, aimed at exploring the potential of cancer prevention through vaccination.

The programme leverages the complementary expertise of GSK and Oxford in the science of the immune system, vaccine development and cancer biology. It is hoped that the insights generated through the programme into how cancer develops could inform new approaches to vaccination for cancer prevention, offering fresh hope in the fight against the disease.

The programme – which will be led by Professor Sarah Blagden in Oxford’s Department of Oncology, alongside Dr Timothy Clay and Dr Ramon Kemp at GSK - unites expertise from four departments across the University and builds on Oxford’s exceptional track record in vaccine development.

Professor Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, said:

This partnership represents a step forward in cancer research. By working with GSK to unite experts in clinical trials, immuno-oncology, vaccinology and precancer research from across the University of Oxford, we aim to unlock the potential of cancer vaccines and bring hope to patients worldwide. 

The partnership was coordinated by Oxford Cancer, which facilitates collaboration across departments to ensure rapid translation from research to patient benefit. Supporting Professor Blagden on the project are Associate Directors Professors Tim Elliott, (Centre for Immuno-oncology, Nuffield Department of Medicine (NDM) and Co-Director of Oxford Cancer), Ellie Barnes (Experimental Medicine Division, NDM) and Simon Leedham (Centre for Human Genetics, NDM), who bring immune-oncology, vaccinology and precancer biology expertise, respectively. The programme will include researchers from across Oxford’s Medical Sciences Division, including the Department of Oncology and its Oncology Clinical Trials Office, the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, the Radcliffe Department of Medicine, and the Nuffield Department of Medicine.

The Advanced Single Cell Omics Facility at the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine is one of the Oxford laboratories that will be part of this programme. Facility manager Maria Greco said:

We are honoured to be part of the GSK-Oxford Cancer Immuno-Prevention Programme, which has the potential to be a game-changer in cancer prevention and treatment. We’re excited to see what the state-of-the-art single cell and spatial multiomics technologies at our Facility can bring to this powerful collaboration.

 

Read the full story on Oxford Cancer’s website.