Researchers receive £2.5 million Cancer Research UK grant for drug discovery
Cancer Research UK has awarded up to £2.5m over a five-year period to researchers at the University of Southampton to develop vaccines against cancer.
A team headed by Professor Martin Glennie and Professor Aymen Al-Shamkhani at the University of Southampton, will develop new vaccines that manipulate the body’s own immune system to fight cancer cells. This work will be supported by scientists based at the University of Oxford.
Professor Glennie said: "Looking at how a person’s immune system can be ‘super-charged’ to fight cancer is an exciting and growing field of cancer research. We’re delighted to have received this Cancer Research UK grant, which will help us create potentially life-saving cancer vaccines.”
Dr Peter Sneddon, Cancer Research UK’s executive director of clinical and translational research funding, said: “This grant recognises that the University of Southampton has a special area of expertise in immunotherapy.
“Drug discovery is a top priority for Cancer Research UK and we are in the process of significantly increasing our research programmes in this area.
“Cancer Research UK recently launched an ambitious five-year plan which will see the charity spend around £300 million a year on core areas of science to reduce cancer deaths. We hope our drug discovery grants will contribute to our vision to beat cancer.”