Paediatric Solid Tumour Biology and Therapeutics Group

Professor Louis Chesler’s group is investigating the genetic causes for the childhood cancers, neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. 

Research, projects and publications in this group

Our group's aim is to improve the treatment and survival of children with neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma.

The goal of our laboratory is to improve the treatment and survival of children with neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma, three paediatric solid tumours in which high-risk patient cohorts can be defined by alterations in a single oncogene. We focus on the role of the MYCN oncogene, since aberrant expression of MYCNis very significantly associated with high-risk in all three diseases and implies that they may have a common cell-of-origin.

Elucidating the molecular signalling pathways that control expression of the MYCN oncoprotein and targeting these pathways with novel therapeutics is a major goal of the laboratory. We use a variety of innovative preclinical drug development platforms for this purpose.

Technologically, we focus on genetically engineered cancer models incorporating novel imaging (optical and fluorescent) modalities that can be used as markers to monitor disease progression and therapeutic response.

Our group has several key objectives:

  • Mechanistically dissect the role of the MYCN oncogene, and other key oncogenic driver genes in poor-outcome paediatric solid tumours (neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma).
  • Develop novel therapeutics targeting MYCN oncoproteins and other key oncogenic drivers
  • Develop improved genetic cancer models dually useful for studies of oncogenesis and preclinical development of novel therapeutics.
  • Use such models to develop and functionally validate optical imaging modalities useful as surrogate markers of tumour progression in paediatric cancer.

Professor Louis Chesler

Clinical Senior Lecturer/Group Leader:

Paediatric Solid Tumour Biology and Therapeutics Professor Louis Chesler (Profile pic)

Professor Louis Chesler is working to understand the biology of children’s cancers and use that information to discover and develop new personalised approaches to cancer treatment. His work focuses on improving the understanding of the role of the MYCN oncogene.

Researchers in this group

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Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Phone: +44 20 3437 6124

Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Phone: +44 20 3437 3617

Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Phone: +44 20 8722 4186

Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Phone: +44 20 3437 3501

Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Phone: +44 20 8722 4361

Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Phone: +44 20 3437 6118

Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Phone: +44 20 3437 6021

Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Phone: +44 20 3437 6196

Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Phone: +44 20 3437 6258

Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Phone: +44 20 8722 4527

Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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OrcID: 0000-0003-3977-7020

Phone: +44 20 3437 6109

Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

I obtained an MSci in Biochemistry from the University of Glasgow in 2018. In October 2018 I joined the labs of Dr Michael Hubank and Professor Andrea Sottoriva to investigate the use of liquid biopsy to monitor clonal frequency and emergence of resistance mutations in paediatric cancers.

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Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Phone: +44 20 3437 6358

Email: [email protected]

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Phone: +44 20 3437 6131

Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

Professor Louis Chesler's group have written 113 publications

Most recent new publication 4/2025

See all their publications

Vacancies in this group

Working in this group

Postdoctoral Training Fellow

  • Chelsea
  • Structural Biology
  • Salary Range: £45,600 - £55,000 per annum
  • Fixed term

Under the leadership of Claudio Alfieri, we are seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Training Fellow to join the Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Cycle Regulation Group at the Chester Beatty Laboratories, Fulham Road in London. This project aims to investigate the molecular mechanisms of cell cycle regulation by macromolecular complexes involved in cell proliferation decisions, by combining genome engineering, proteomics and in situ structural biology. For general information on Post Doc's at The ICR can be found here. Key Requirements The successful candidate must have a PhD in cellular biochemistry and experience in Cryo-EM and CLEM is desirable. The ICR has a workforce agreement stating that Postdoctoral Training Fellows can only be employed for up to 7 years as PDTF at the ICR, providing total postdoctoral experience (including previous employment at this level elsewhere) does not exceed 7 years Department/Directorate Information: The candidate will work in the Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Cycle Regulation Group within the ICR Division of Structural Biology headed by Prof. Laurence Pearl and Prof. Sebastian Guettler. The division has state-of-the-art facilities for protein expression and biophysics/x-ray crystallography, in particular the Electron Microscopy Facility is equipped with a Glacios 200kV with Falcon 4i detector with Selectris energy filter and the ICR has access to Krios microscopes via eBIC and the LonCEM consortium. We encourage all applicants to access the job pack attached for more detailed information regarding this role. For an informal discussion regarding the role, please contact Claudio Alfieri via Email on [email protected]

Higher Scientific Officer - Drug Discovery Biology, Centre for Protein Degradation

  • Sutton
  • Cancer Therapeutics
  • £39,805 - £49,023
  • Fixed term

We are seeking to recruit a Higher Scientific Officer within the Induced Proximity Therapeutics (IPT) Team in the ICR Centre for Protein Degradation to support our molecular glue and PROTAC drug discovery projects and expand induced proximity technology. The IPT team focuses on three main areas of research: Cancer target validation Screening, profiling and molecular mechanism of action of molecular glue and PROTAC degraders Novel E3 ligase biology and ligand discovery The successful candidate will work in a multidisciplinary team and play a key role in target validation, developing in vitro and cell-based assays, and pharmacological characterisation of novel molecular glue degraders and PROTACs, but may also contribute to other activities. About you The successful candidate: Will be a strong team player who is technically minded and passionate about science and cancer drug discovery Will hold a first degree, and preferably a PhD, in biological science or biochemistry Will have experience in cancer biology/target validation, genetic manipulation techniques, in vitro and cell-based assay development and pharmacological compound profiling Experience in targeted protein degradation will be a significant advantage. Department/Directorate Information This position will be based in the ICR's Centre for Protein Degradation, a part of the Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery (CCDD) specialising in developing novel drug modalities that re-wire tumour cells' signalling by targeted degradation of key oncogenic drivers. Our experienced biologists work closely with medicinal chemists, biophysicists, computational scientists, oncology specialists and physicians on discovering new medicines - molecular glue degraders and PROTACs - using innovative screening platforms and characterising their mechanisms of action, as well as expanding the repertoire of novel degradable drug targets and E3 ligases (enzymes that mediate protein degradation). Our research provides a nucleus for the academics and pharmaceutical industry to explore therapeutic potential of targeted protein degradation from laboratory hypothesis-testing to early clinical trials, for the benefit of cancer patients. What we offer A dynamic and supportive research environment in one of the successful academic cancer drug discovery centres in the UK Access to state-of-the-art facilities and professional development Collaboration with leading drug discovery and oncology scientist Competitive salary and pension To learn more about this role, please download the attached job pack. For informal inquiries, please contact Dr Agnieszka Konopacka, Group Leader, Induced Proximity Therapeutics, Centre for Protein Degradation via email: [email protected].

Industrial partnership opportunities with this group

Opportunity: A novel test for predicting future cancer risk in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Commissioner: Professor Trevor Graham

Recent discoveries from this group

Oral squamous cancer cell (white) being attacked by two cytotoxic T cells (red)

28/04/25

An immunotherapy treatment helps patients live years longer without their cancer getting worse or coming back, a major phase III trial has found.
MRI Brain Scan

25/04/25

A recent study on an aggressive type of brain cancer has significantly advanced the understanding of the spectrum of tumours that occur in teenagers and young adults (TYA).

24/04/25

The largest study to date of most common form of testicular cancer has uncovered a possible link between disease risk and variations in the genes controlling cell shape and movement.
CT scan of the human body

14/04/25

The overuse of CT scans could cause over 100,000 cases of cancer in the US – with almost 10,000 cases in children, researchers have warned.