Division of Molecular Pathology
Interim Head of Division: Professor Alan Ashworth FRS
Research within the Division of Molecular Pathology is focused on gaining an understanding of the molecular alterations important in the pathogenesis and progression of cancer, and those that determine the outcome of therapy. The goal is to translate advances in the molecular characterisation of tumours into approaches that will result in the successful implementation of personalised medicine. The specific aims are:
- To discover genetic and other molecular changes in cancer and determine their role in clinical behaviour.
- To develop molecular diagnostic assays for routine clinical use in NHS oncology practice.
- To establish a systematic approach for the complete molecular characterisation of tumours.
- To use molecular diagnostics to aid recruitment of cancer patients into clinical trials of novel targeted therapeutics.
- To characterise mechanisms of resistance to therapies by integrating molecular profiling and functional genomics.
The Division is comprised of teams investigating a number of tumour types, including breast, prostate, paediatric, sarcoma and haemato-oncological tumours. By developing a comprehensive characterisation of the molecular features of cancer, and through strong links with other researchers in the ICR and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, the research programmes within the Division aim to establish new molecular diagnostics and novel molecular therapeutic targets in cancer, in addition to identifying biomarkers that are indicative of disease state. These activities are at the heart of the ICR’s development of personalised medicine for cancer.
