Research projects

Chrysoula Pitsouli Headshot

Active Cyprus

Brain cancer

Can fruit flies help us understand how brain cancer develops?

Using fruit flies to discover how glioblastoma ‘hijacks’ blood vessels and takes nutrients from healthy cells, so possible new treatment targets can be found.

Researcher: Professor Chrysoula Pitsouli

Using fruit flies to understand how brain cancer can hijack our blood vessels
Gianninodelsal Headshot

Active Italy

Liver cancer

Why do some people with liver disease go on to develop liver cancer?

Researchers are exploring how liver cells respond to stress causes by liver disease,  how this links to cancer development and if it can be stopped. 

Researcher: Professor Giannino Del Sal

Uncovering the connection between liver disease and liver cancer
Serena Zacchigna Team

Active Italy

General cancer research

Can we stop cancer spreading by mimicking the beating of the heart?

Discovering why cancer rarely develops in the heart will hopefully lead to an exciting new wearable device to stop cancer spreading in other organs. 

Researcher: Dr Serena Zacchigna

Treating cancer with a heart beat
Emanuele Azzoni and Team in the lab

Active Italy

Leukaemia

What causes JMML – a rare childhood blood cancer?

JMML (Juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia) affects very young children and is hard to treat, so this project is looking at what causes it to try to find new cures.

Researcher: Dr Emanuele Azzoni

Pursuing new clues about the cause of a rare childhood blood cancer
Nicolas Alcala and Team

Active France

Lung cancer

How does a rare but incurable cancer type develop?

Discovering more about how mesothelioma cells behave could reveal clues about how to better diagnose or prevent this aggressive type of cancer.

Researcher: Dr Nicolas Alcala

Discovering if mesothelioma cells compete or cooperate
Gertraud Orend in her lab

Active France

General cancer research

Could a new molecular tool improve the effectiveness of radiotherapy?

For some patients, cancer can return after successful radiotherapy treatment. This project aims to discover new information about how we could reduce this chance.

Researcher: Dr Gertraud Orend

Could a new molecular tool improve the effectiveness of radiotherapy?
Roberta Tasso Headshot

Active Italy

General cancer research

Could nanoparticle 'smart bombs' target hard-to-treat tumours?

Once cancer has spread, or metastasised, it often becomes incurable. This project is investigating new ways to deliver drugs specifically to metastatic tumours.

Researcher: Professor Roberta Tasso

Developing natural nanoparticle “smart bombs” to target hard-to-treat tumours
Daniele Fachinetti and Team

Active France

General cancer research

Can we find new druggable targets for cancer treatments?

By understanding the link between structures in our cells called 'centromeres' and cancer development, this team aim to find possible new ways to target cancer.

Researcher: Dr Daniele Fachinetti

Breaking point: causes and consequences of ‘centromere breakage’ in cancer development
Ylli Doksani and Team

Active Italy

General cancer research

What's the connection between chemotherapy and chromosomes?

Chemotherapy is one of the most common cancer treatments but it doesn't work for everyone so this team want to understand why so they can make it more successful. 

Researcher: Dr Ylli Doksani

Chemotherapy and chromosomes: understanding the connection