Tales from the Lab

Find out what's going on at the front line of cancer research as ICR researchers — including PhD students, postdocs and clinical fellows — let you inside their labs and show you their science.

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Computing cancer amidst a deluge of data

20/01/17 - Dr Philip Law

The reams of data now being generated by genome sequencing provide challenges and opportunities in our hunt for better ways to understand and treat cancer, as ICR bioinformatician Dr Philip Law explains.
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The acceptable poison: drinking alcohol will remain a personal choice despite links to cancer

04/01/17 - Kevin Litchfield

Alcohol is everywhere in modern Western society, but with growing evidence of a link to cancer, ICR PhD student Kevin Litchfield asks how long the status quo will last.
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Team Science? It’s all Greek to me

28/12/16 - Hannah Macdonald

Scientists from different disciplines must take care with how they communicate if we are to deliver true team science.
Scientist reviewing a DNA stream. (photo: iStock.com/Claude Dagenais)
More than one way to skin A CAT… at least in our genes

20/12/16 - Dr Sabrina Talukdar

Finding the harmful 'spelling mistakes' among our 20,000 genes is a gargantuan task, but one which could unlock the causes of genetic disorders.
A Blue Rock Pigeon, Columba livia (photo: JM Garg CC-BY-SA 3)
Teaching pigeons to spot gorillas

06/12/16 - Dr Hugh Harvey

Why the future may be digital for detecting cancer in imaging scans – almost.
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Bringing science and art together

04/11/16 - Molly Went

For the first time, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, took part in Sutton’s Imagine Festival of the Arts, hosting an evening of science and interactivity in Sutton Library. Molly Went, a PhD student at the ICR, writes about the experience.
Katie Pollock (photo: Steve Robinson/the ICR)
How I co-operate with scientists across disciplines to discover new cancer drugs

08/07/16 - Katie Pollock

The latest innovations in science often involve researchers working together across numerous disciplines. Katie Pollock, a PhD student at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, describes what it’s like working across different fields of cancer research.
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A day in the life of an ICR PhD student

27/06/16 - Jamie Dean

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work in a scientific laboratory? Jamie Dean, a PhD student at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, gives us a glimpse into the day to day work of an early-career cancer scientist.
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Making gene testing for cancer patients part of routine care

23/05/16 - Professor Nazneen Rahman

We need to make gene testing for cancer part of routine care, says Professor Nazneen Rahman, Head of the Division of Genetics and Epidemiology at the ICR and Head of the Cancer Genetics Clinical Unit at The Royal Marsden.
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ICR at the Imperial Festival 2016: A sunny weekend for science

20/05/16 - Raphael Silveira Vidal

The ICR recently attended the annual Imperial Science Festival to explain to the public how Darwinian evolution can be applied to cancer research and treatment.
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Biomarkers offer a glimpse into the future of personalised cancer treatment

10/05/16 - Dr Irene Chong

The pioneering use of biomarkers is opening up a new era of personalised treatment, explains Dr Irene Chong, Clinician Scientist at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and a Consultant Clinical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.
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Should science only be reported by journalists with a scientific background?

26/04/16 - Sabrina Talukdar

When a room full of PhD students from The Institute of Cancer Research, London, held a debate about science journalism, most initially agreed that journalists covering science stories should have a science background. But would hearts and minds be swayed by a panel of experts on both sides of the debate?
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Revealing the world of cancer research – through play

22/03/16 - Molly Went

Cancer can be scary – so The Institute of Cancer Research, London, recently attended the Royal Holloway Science Festival to show an all-ages audience how we’re working to defeat it.
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STEM Ambassadors: inspiring students and dispelling myths

16/03/16 - Dr Becky Cook

During British Science Week 2016, Dr Becky Cook looks at the role of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) Ambassadors at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, in enthusing young people in these subjects.
High Intensity Focused Ultrasound machine
When Nostradamus got it right about cancer treatment

08/02/16 - Marcia Costa

The French philosopher was right to predict that sound waves could be used as an innovative way of targeting tumours.
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Happigenetics – a marriage of art and science

26/11/15 - Martina Mijuskovic

Happigenetics mixes science with art to explore our perceptions of genetics and genomic research. ICR research fellow Martina Mijuskovic explains what the project means to her.
The Teen Tech Awards
Judging at the TeenTech finals

04/08/15 - Yvette Newbatt

After judging the electronic entries for the TeenTech Health category, Yvette Newbatt from the ICR’s Division of Cancer Therapeutics was delighted to be asked to judge the shortlisted entries as part of an event at the Royal Society.
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I’m a Scientist: Get me out of here!

11/05/15 - Dr Hugh Harvey

Poetry, cancer research and 3D-printing – Dr Hugh Harvey blogs about taking part in "I'm a Scientist: Get me out of here!".
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Making school children excited about science

16/04/15 - Dr Tatiana McHardy

Dr Tatiana McHardy shares her experiences on a recent school's career day she attended in which she engaged young girls with her scientific career.
Excel sheet (Andy Roast for the ICR, 2015)
Seven things you learn while surrounded by data

17/03/15 - Lucy Eccles

As a data manager in the Clinical Trials and Statistics Unit, Lucy has changed the way she thinks about everyday events. She shares some of the more unexpected experiences and learning curves she's come across while ploughing through piles of data.