A Guernsey student is getting ready to start a four-year project, aiming to develop a vaccine that will fight cancer.
James Christian will begin his PhD in September at the University of Southampton’s Centre for Cancer Immunology. His PhD is funded in part through donations from Guernsey residents to the Wessex Medical Trust and also from the University’s Cancer Immunology Fund. In addition, James has received a generous bursary from Guernsey business Healthxchange.
“So many people’s lives are affected by cancer,” he said. “But the immune system has the power to fight this horrible disease. I am very grateful to everyone who has supported the Wessex Medical Trust and the Cancer Immunology Fund, and I can’t wait to get started.”
During his PhD, James, who was born on Guernsey and went to Castel Primary School and Elizabeth College, will look at the potential of using the COVID-19 virus to develop a vaccine to boost the immune system to track down and destroy cancer.
He explained: “The immune system is a wonderous thing and because it is so flexible, it can target certain types of cancer. However, sadly some patients respond better than others. In poor responses patients have what’s called ‘cold’ tumours – like a Cold War, there’s not much action going on.
“I’m hoping to use a patient’s previous immunity to make these tumours ‘hot’ and respond better to treatment. I’ll be taking the COVID-19 virus, something that 94% of us have strong immunity against, and modifying it to turn those existing immune defences against cancer instead.”
As well as wanting to further immunology research, James’ PhD is also very personal to him. Both his mother and father have personal experiences of cancer. His mother Juliette received treatment for breast cancer in both Guernsey and Southampton in 2020, while his father Paul is currently receiving chemotherapy at the Bulstrode Oncology Unit in Guernsey.
James, 23, said: “If I can help my mum and dad then that’s of course, what I want to do, but even if I can’t, I’ll be helping someone else’s parents, or someone else’s child or friend in the future.”
“Cancer will affect everyone in one way or another, and we must do all we can to help as many people as possible. I’ve seen both my parents go through rounds and rounds of treatment and get hit by this poison until either the cancer gives up or you do. Thankfully, my dad’s side effects are not too bad at the moment but that’s not the case for everyone.”
“Immunotherapy is a promising treatment for cancer with fewer side effects, and we need to get to a point where that is the usual treatment people have – but more research is needed to get to that point, and I hope that my PhD will go someway in getting us there.”
James’ interest in immunology was sparked at an event at Les Cotils, where Professor Tim Elliott gave a presentation about Southampton’s Centre for Cancer Immunology. He was introduced to Tim by Roger Allsopp OBE, who supported the University of Southampton’s campaign to build the Centre, and they talked about the exciting research field and what the Centre wanted to achieve.
At that time James was studying Natural Sciences at the University of Bath and, as part of that degree, he was able to spend a placement year at the Centre, working alongside Tim and colleagues to learn the valuable research skills he will now use during his PhD.
“I’m very excited to get started,” he said. “Working at the Centre for Cancer Immunology was my first option for my PhD so I’m very grateful to be able to follow that path. My placement year was inspirational – I had the opportunity to work alongside great people in amazing facilities. My Professor from Bath came to see me once and was taken aback by the facilities and equipment that I was able to use – he said I had more lab space than him!”
“Everyone was very helpful and supportive and made me feel really welcome. I feel like I can hit the ground running now I am returning to do my PhD there. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone and getting started.”
Guernsey residents have a long history of supporting cancer research in Southampton, with £15m of the £25m needed to build the Centre for Cancer Immunology coming from people in the Channel Islands.
Speaking about the support he has received from Guernsey residents, James said: “So many people have been instrumental in getting me to this point. To see all that Roger (Allsopp) has done for various campaigns including swimming the Channel is amazing. Sir Geoff Rowland has been incredibly supportive too, as well as the amazing team at Healthxchange. I am looking forward to starting my PhD and making a positive contribution to this important area of cancer research. The hospital in Southampton plays a hugely important role in the lives of everyone in Guernsey and the exceptionally high quality of medical research at the University directly impacts the patient experience.”
The University of Southampton is to hold an event on Tuesday 23 May for Guernsey residents to find out more about their pioneering research in cancer and dementia. Held at Les Cotils, the event will be hosted by Dr Nicola Brink, Guernsey’s Director of Public Health, and include talks from Professor Peter Johnson, from the Centre for Cancer Immunology, who is also Director of Cancer Services for the NHS; Roxana Carare, Professor of Clinical Neuroanatomy and Paul Elkington, Professor of Respiratory Medicine. Register for free tickets here.