Science Talk
With our Science Talk blog, we hope to lift the lid on the black box that is the ICR: to show you inside our labs, to introduce you to a few of the people here who make the discoveries, and to allow them to tell some of the stories behind the science. We try to put our discoveries in a wider scientific context, and give an idea of how our science is actually done. We also give you the view from the ICR of important developments in the wider world of cancer research.
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“I found a way to honour my mum’s memory” – Dan’s One More City story
Dan Dale recently joined a team of 37 riders to take on the One More City annual cycling campaign. The four-day challenge this September saw them ride from Pisa to Nice, covering nearly 600km and reaching climbs of 6,000m along the way, all to raise funds for our groundbreaking research into secondary breast cancer. Here, Dan reflects on his experience and his reason to take part…
Could expanding BRCA gene testing save lives in breast and ovarian cancer?
Although cancer is not usually inherited, certain types, including breast and ovarian, can be triggered by inherited gene faults, meaning they can run in families. Now that we can test for these mutations, could – and should – we be testing as many people as possible to identify those at higher risk? Isy Godfrey spoke with Beth Torr, Scientific Programme Manager in Cancer Genetics, to find out.
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“Today I pedal with them, tomorrow they will be pedalling alone” – cycling to support secondary breast cancer
Cyclist Chris Clothier reflects on his recent ride from Pisa to Nice as part of the One More City team, raising vital funds for our groundbreaking research into secondary breast cancer.
From Bench to Bedside: Why Data and Statistics Matter
As we mark World Statistics Day, Carolyn McNamara, the Manager of the Research Data Management Team at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, explains how statistics are at the heart of every clinical trial.
From data to discovery: the impact of statistics in cancer research
Every five years, World Statistics Day is celebrated globally to recognise the vital role statistics plays in shaping societies, our research and supporting evidence-based decision-making. The fourth observance, on 20 October 2025, is held under the theme ‘Quality statistics and data for everyone’.
‘Developing new treatments is the only way to improve and save lives’ – Sam’s story
When he was five years old, Sam Cooper, now 33, lost his mum to sarcoma, a rare type of cancer that starts in soft tissues or bones. On 12 October, he will be running the Royal Parks Half Marathon in her memory, hoping to raise £1,000 to support our groundbreaking research.
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‘I’m running for the ICR because I know that funding is vital for cancer research to continue’ – Alex’s story
Alex Jemmett, 31, will be running the Royal Parks Half Marathon on 12 October to raise funds for our vital research in memory of three significant people in her life who she has lost to cancer.
Bridging the gap: Ensuring teenagers and young adults with cancer are not overlooked
Historically, we have tended to think of cancer in a binary way, labelling it as either ‘adult cancer’ or ‘childhood cancer’. But where does that leave teenage and young adult (TYA) patients?
Improving clinical testing to bring kinder treatments to children and young people with cancer
We speak with Professor Louis Chesler and Dr Sally George at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, who are working on refining and streamlining clinical testing to find better ways to detect and characterise cancers in young patients.
Running a marathon in memory of Professor Chris Marshall – “I wanted to mark 10 years since Chris’ death by supporting the research that was so important to him.”
Luke Wijsveld, 48, will be running the Berlin Marathon on 21 September, to mark 10 years since the death of his father-in-law, Professor Chris Marshall. Chris was a pioneering cancer researcher who spent 35 years working at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), making vital discoveries which have shaped our understanding of how cancers arise and have led to the development of advanced therapies to treat them.
Artificial intelligence provides new hope to people with skin cancer
Here, we speak with Dr Matt De Vries, who used melanoma cells to develop an AI tool that could help new drugs reach patients much more quickly.
“There cannot be enough research into cancer. That’s why a legacy gift makes perfect sense” – Jolyon’s story
Jolyon, 75, faced his own cancer diagnosis in 2018 and has also seen members of his immediate family and ‘too many friends’ touched by the disease. That’s why he has pledged to leave a gift in his Will to fund our ground-breaking research.
The impact of selective recruitment to clinical trials
Clinical trials offer people living with cancer the opportunity to try a new treatment while also helping the research community work towards defeating the disease. But could a selective recruitment approach be holding back both patients and scientists?
“I like to think I am contributing to our breakthroughs in cancer research” – Rick’s melanoma story
Rick Freedman, 50, who is Head of Research Finance at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), explains why our summer fundraising appeal, which is supporting our melanoma research, holds personal significance for him…
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“I’m so grateful for cancer research, I have directly benefitted from it” – Bea’s melanoma story
Bea Buckley, 40, was diagnosed with stage 3b acral melanoma, a rare type of skin cancer, in 2022. After three surgeries and 12 months of targeted therapy, she is now disease-free and feels hopeful about the future.
A decade of supporting robust scientific discovery: the Chemical Probes Portal celebrates its 10th birthday
10 years on from their call-to-action paper, Ben Kolbington speaks with the Chemical Probes Portal team on the progress they've made and what they still hope to achieve in their mission to improve the quality and robustness of biomedical research.
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“Without immunotherapy, I wouldn’t be here now. I feel so lucky” – David’s melanoma story
David Bateson, 49, was first diagnosed with melanoma, a type of skin cancer, in December 2019. By August 2021, it had spread to his liver, lungs and spine. Thanks to immunotherapy treatment, David has gone from having aggressive cancer to having no evidence of disease in his body. He explains why he now has hope for the future and a new-found appreciation of life…
"Every day is valuable" - Sally’s melanoma story
Sally Steadman-South, a mother of two from Sheffield, was diagnosed with melanoma in 2014 at the age of 34, after visiting the GP about a small mole on her chest.
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The physics behind precision: Professor Steve Webb and the evolution of radiotherapy
Over the last four decades, radiotherapy has seen a technological revolution – evolving from broad, relatively simple deliveries to highly targeted, patient-specific treatment. Few individuals have played a more pivotal role in its transformation than Emeritus Professor Steve Webb, former Head of the Joint Department of Physics at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.
“New breast cancer drug capivasertib is allowing me to live life to the full” – Elen’s story
Elen Hughes was first diagnosed with primary invasive lobular breast cancer in 2008 at the age of 37. Eight years later, her cancer returned and spread, and she has been on a rollercoaster journey ever since, experiencing the highs of remission and the lows of numerous relapses. Since February 2025, she has been treated with the drug capivasertib, the discovery of which was underpinned by research at The Institute of Cancer Research. She is now doing well and feels hopeful for her future.