Professor Gareth Morgan

The focus of the research by this team is the development of personalised medicine strategies for the blood cancers, including myeloma, leukaemia and the lymphomas. This approach is based on the characterisation of the basic pathogenic mechanisms leading to the aetiology and progression – this information is then used to to design and implement new therapeutics.

A range of high throughput genetic technologies are being applied to the study of these cancers, which will help in their diagnosis, classification and in the prediction of their clinical behaviour.

By characterising the underlying molecular events, such as mutations or methylation changes, we will develop novel therapies which are active clinically, and this will allow us to develop personalised medicine strategies.

This work in developing stratified medicine is becoming increasingly important, as it is now realised that only by fully understanding the mechanisms involved in their development and in their progression, is it possible to target treatment appropriately.

A basic hypothesis underlying the personalised medicine approach to the leukaemias, is that we can link a diagnostic test to a therapeutic strategy, and by doing so, improve survival as well as reducing side effects.

Of key importance, is the development of strategies aimed at overcoming treatment resistance and its associated poor clinical outcome. Essential to this aim, is the development of a diagnostic strategy able to predict the presence of resistance at a time when it is possible to modify the treatment being used. In order to implement this strategy, we have developed an accredited molecular diagnostic laboratory.   

Thus, we are developing a unique integrated approach whereby novel diagnostics are linked to the development of new therapies with the aim of evaluating them in the context of the current best standard clinical care.

External Funding: Myeloma UK, Bud Flanagan Leukaemia Fund, Cancer Research UK, Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund, David Adams Leukaemia Fund and Department of Health.

Gareth Morgan is Professor of Haematology at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and Head of the Myeloma Unit at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. After attending medical school at the University Hospital of Wales, he completed a PhD and trained in the molecular genetics and management of blood cell cancers at the ICR.  

He left the ICR to join the University of Leeds, where he set up his own research group studying the molecular genetics of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and myeloma. During this time, he developed his interest and expertise in the treatment and management of leukaemias, lymphomas and myeloma.  

He is an internationally respected clinician and researcher who has published extensively on the genetics and treatment of these diseases. His research has focussed on the translation of information derived from the molecular analysis of the pathogenesis of malignant cells into the clinic using novel targeted treatment strategies based on innovative diagnostic approaches. One of the major aims of his research group is the development of personalised medicine strategies for myeloma with the aim of overcoming treatment resistance. In particular, he is interested in the use of new drugs in the context of standard treatment approaches.  

He is a committed clinician and trialist and is currently Principal Investigator of the Myeloma XI study and a number of Phase I and II studies, as well as serving on Independent Data Monitoring Committees. He is actively involved in research into the genetic basis of myeloma and how this can be used in the clinical environment. He receives programme funding from Myeloma UK, as well as project support from the Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund, the Bud Flanagan Leukemia Fund and Cancer Research UK.  

He is widely published with over 200 high impact factor peer reviewed articles.  

He is recognised nationally and internationally as a clinician and researcher and has been Scientific Secretary for the British Society of Haematology. He is currently Scientific Secretary for the UK Myeloma Forum. He reviews for a number of journals and sits on grant giving bodies both in the UK and internationally. He has been instrumental in the establishment of the European Myeloma Network. He is a Director for Myeloma UK, Scientific Advisor to the International Myeloma Foundation and is on the Board of the UK Stem Cell Bank.