Clinical Pharmacodynamics Biomarker Group

Professor Banerji's group focuses on the development and validation of quantifiable and reproducible robust pharmacodynamic biomarkers in normal and tumour tissue that can be used in first-in-human studies.

Research, projects and publications in this group

Our group focuses on the development and validation of quantifiable and reproducible robust pharmacodynamic biomarkers via methods involving MSD, Luminex, Nanostring and immunofluorescence.

The Clinical Pharmacodynamics Biomarker Group already has validated and has functioning assays of key nodes in the PI3K signalling pathway for drugs which target this pathway. It is now developing, validating and running assays focusing on DNA damage repair, such as p-CHK1 and gamma H2AX and also related to the cell cycle such as p-RB and p-HH3. In addition to these, the group has a wider focus of assays to study drugs targeting the alpha folate receptor such as shed circulating alpha folate receptor and cytokine assays for immunotherapy studies.

Professor Udai's group uses a range of platforms that measure proteins including MSD, Luminex, Nanostring and immunofluorescence. Examples of assays developed and used in clinical trials include p-AKT, p-GSK3B in platelet-rich plasma, p-PRAS40 in hair follicles, p-CHK1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and gamma H2AX in hair follicles by immunofluorescence. In addition, these tests are optimised for tumour tissue and have been used in multiple phase I clinical trials.

The group validates these assays to a high standard, with special attention to dynamic ranges and reproducibility of assays in addition to the stability of samples. The team has an extensive list of internal standard operating procedures and runs quality control checks as per Good Clinical Practice.

Recent discoveries from this group

MRI of tumour reducing in size over time after given idetrexed
The future of ovarian cancer: innovation, treatment and hope

22/01/25 - Robbie Lockyer

Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed late, making it difficult to treat. But innovative research at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, is changing how we think about managing this complex and hard-to-treat disease. Robbie Lockyer speaks to molecular pharmacology expert and medical oncologist Professor Udai Banerji to find out more about therapeutic research strategies.
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Cartoon representation of AKT2 kinase domain
AKT inhibitors: a new type of targeted cancer drug

12/05/22

To mark our outstanding success in REF2021, Alison Halliday shares the story of how our researchers revealed the 3D structure of the key cancer protein AKT, catalysing the discovery and development of at least 12 drugs now in clinical trials for a variety of cancers.
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ICR Logo
First clinical trial of innovative drug targeting HSF1 pathway begins

31/12/21

The first cancer patients are to receive doses of an innovative new drug that targets a master regulatory pathway in cells, as part of a new clinical trial.
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Pills or drugs in blister pack
Response to gene-targeted drugs depends on cancer type

01/07/19

Cancers with the same genetic weaknesses respond differently to targeted drugs depending on the tumour type of the patient, new research reveals.
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Silver drug packets
Drug combination gives ‘exciting’ results in ovarian and lung cancer in early trial

22/08/18

Combining a new targeted cancer drug with chemotherapy has shown promise in an early clinical trial, in patients with ovarian or lung cancer for whom all other treatments had failed.
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