Research groups interested in hosting an Undergraduate Summer Scholarship Student
| Group | Group Leader | Project description | Desired background for student | ICR Site Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer Genomics | Richard Houlston | Project 1: Applying Mendelian Randomisation to identify chemotherapeutic agents that may reduce cancer incidence. The student will analyse genetic and clinical datasets to support methodological development and contribute to evidence generation. Project 2: Investigating genetic factors that influence the risk of drug-related thrombosis in multiple myeloma. The student will analyse genomic and clinical data to support identification of susceptibility markers and contribute to methodological development. Project 3: Identifying non-canonical neoantigens in cancer. The student will analyse genomic and transcriptomic data to support discovery of candidate neoantigens and contribute to methodological development. Project 4: Investigating the biological basis of renal cancer by examining hypoxia-mediated epigenetic reprogramming. The student will analyse molecular and genomic data to support identification of relevant regulatory changes. | Suitable disciplines; Mathematics, physics, engineering, computer science. | Sutton |
| Group | Group Leader | Project description | Desired background for student | ICR Site Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evolutionary Immunogenomics | Luis Zapata Ortiz | Our laboratory investigates how tumours and the immune system co-evolve, using large-scale public datasets across cancer types to uncover mechanisms of immune escape, selective pressures, mutational signatures, and predictive markers of response to treatment. | computational background, R/Python, bash, HPC | Sutton |
| Group | Group Leader | Project description | Desired background for student | ICR Site Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epigenetics and Genome Stability | Jessica Downs | Investigating chromatin impact on genome stability: In this project, the student will use computational analysis to generate insights into the data generated in the SWI/SNF base editing screen. Overall, this analysis will provide the student with valuable coding and data analysis skills, and it will contribute towards a greater understanding of how chromatin organisation helps cells maintain the integrity of DNA, and how this goes wrong in cancer cells. | Investigating chromatin impact on genome stability: In this project, the student will use computational analysis to generate insights into the data generated in the SWI/SNF base editing screen. Overall, this analysis will provide the student with valuable coding and data analysis skills, and it will contribute towards a greater understanding of how chromatin organisation helps cells maintain the integrity of DNA, and how this goes wrong in cancer cells. | Chelsea |
| Signalling & Cancer Metabolism | George Poulogiannis | Background: This project will use Flux Balance Analysis to predict how metabolic pathways are rewired during cancer metastasis by integrating transcriptomic data from primary and metastatic tumours. It aims to identify shared metabolic adaptations, vulnerabilities, and predictive biomarkers of metastatic spread, providing computational insights that may support future therapeutic or diagnostic strategies. | Undergraduate course/Skills: Computational/Systems Biology or related subject. Programming in R/Python, experience working with omics datasets. | Chelsea |
| Group | Group Leader | Project description | Desired background for student | ICR Site Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computational Imaging | Matthew Blackledge | There are numerous AI algorithms now available for automatic brain tumour detection and delineation from MRI, and these approaches may change the way in which we assess treatment response in patients with cancers such as glioblastoma. The accuracy of these algorithms will be assessed using unique trial data from the Royal Marsden, comparing their ability to delineate tumours before and after radiotherapy; the best technique will be implemented into a clinical research platform for future use. | Computer science | Sutton |
| Experimental and Translational Theranostic | Kathy Chan | The project will involve investigating the role of cancer stemness in DNA repair responses and explore strategies to modulate stemness to enhance radiosensitivity of cancer cells. The student will gain practical experience in cell culture and molecular biology techniques. This project would be suitable for individuals with a foundation in cell biology, molecular biology, or biochemistry. | This project would be suitable for individuals with a foundation in cell biology, molecular biology, or biochemistry. | Sutton |
| Radiation-enhanced Immunotherapy | Erik Wennerberg | Project: The project will explore the expression of purinergic markers in tissue sections derived from tumours of mice treated with radiotherapy and immunotherapy. Markers of interest are ART1, P2X7R, and CD38 as well as immune cell lineage markers. Methodology: The project will involve methodical testing and optimisation of staining techniques for multiparameter immunofluorescence imaging using confocal microscopy and the PhenoImager system. Briefly, this work will include optimisation of sectioning and preparation of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded mouse tissues, titration and sequencing of antibodies for staining, as well as image analysis using QuPath. | Biological sciences, immunology, cancer biology, microbiology. | |
| Radiotherapy Physics Modelling | Uwe Oelfke | The project aim is to build a deep learning framework to estimate 3D motion from 2D cine MR images acquired during pancreatic MR-Linac treatments. The model will leverage pre-treatment 3D or 4D MRI as prior information. In the context of MR-linac delivered radiotherapy, the 3D motion estimates of the model could enable online dose reconstruction and motion management for more accurate treatment. | A strong Python background is essential. Additional experience with deep learning (PyTorch, CNN/Transformer), medical image processing, with an interest in motion modelling and radiotherapy would be desired. | Sutton |
| Imaging for Radiotherapy Adaptation | Emma Harris | Title: How do components of the tumour microenvironment affect the biomechanical properties of tumours? Project: In this project, the student will learn about preclinical imaging and how imaging signals can be related to tumour structure and biology. An important aim of this project is to understand the spatial distribution of important components within tumour microenvironment (TME) such as collagen of extracellular matrix (ECM), and cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and how they contribute to overall stiffness of tumours. | A suitable participant for this role would ideally have a keen interest in cancer research and understanding more about the TME. This project would suit a student from physics, medical physics, bioengineering, computational sciences, life sciences, medicine, or biology, however, a good foundation in computing or image processing is an advantage. | Sutton |
| Imaging for Radiotherapy Adaptation | Emma Harris | Title: Development of an ultrasound imaging system to measure the biomechanical properties of tissues using test objects. Project: The aim of the project is to develop test objects that mimic tissues. The test objects will be used to evaluate our Vibrational Shear Wave Elastography (VSWE) system which can be used to measure the biomechanical properties of tumours. We want to understand how shear waves behave at tissue boundaries and inhomogeneities, and how to get the best quality images in terms of accuracy of measurement of elasticity and viscosity and spatial resolution. | A suitable participant for this role would ideally have a keen interest in cancer research and application the physical sciences to medicine. This project would suit a physics, mechanical engineering or bioengineering student who is keen to do a lab-based experimental project. | Sutton |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Radiotherapy | Andreas Wetscherek | Improving Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting on an MR-Linac: MR fingerprinting (MRF) measures MR tissue properties from short acquisitions and could be used to monitor treatment response during MR-guided radiotherapy on an MR-Linac. In this project, the student will witness MR-Linac treatments and learn the basics of MRI and radiotherapy. They will compare different techniques for analyzing MRF data by modelling MRI signal evolutions with open-source tools such as KomaMRI and other approaches developed in the MRI in Radiotherapy group. | Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science or Medicine. Previous exposure to machine learning and computational modelling is a bonus. | Sutton |
| Ultrasound and Optical Imaging | Jeff Bamber | Title: Implementation and evaluation of a novel approach to ultrasound speckle suppression. Outline of project: Ultrasound images are modulated by acoustic speckle, which is like laser speckle and gives the images their characteristic granular appearance. This severely limits tissue discrimination and the detectability of low contrast lesions such as tumours. As a result, many approaches to speckle reduction have been published, including our own, and virtually all modern commercial ultrasound scanners are equipped with two or more forms of speckle reduction. These are often employed in combination, as each alone has a limit to the speckle reduction that it can achieve without loss of spatial resolution or generation of image artefacts. Fascinatingly, despite all this work, opportunities for new ways to reduce speckle remain. This project aims to implement one of these new approaches in software and evaluate it for lesion detectability improvement versus loss of resolution. This will be done within the framework of a computer simulation of ultrasound imaging. | Physics/engineering/computational background with experience programming in Matlab/Python/C or potentially other languages. | Sutton |
| Group | Group Leader | Project description | Desired background for student | ICR Site Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICR-CTSU Early Phase and Adaptive Trials | Christina Yap | The successful candidate will be based in the Early Phase and Adaptive Trials team at the Clinical Trials and Statistics Unit at ICR. They will work closely with trials methodologists and statisticians on exciting. Key areas of focus include innovative clinical trial designs, patient-reported outcomes, and the application of Bayesian approaches. This role offers an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience applying advanced statistical methods in clinical trials. | Eligible candidates should be pursuing a quantitative discipline and demonstrate strong R programming skills. We warmly encourage applications from students with a keen interest in medical statistics. | Sutton |
| ICR-CTSU Integrative Genomic Analysis in Clinical Trials | Maggie Cheang | The summer student will be working on developing AI methods for image analysis, such as adapting pathology foundation models for biomarker prediction or writing algorithms for analysing multiplex immunofluorescence or CosMx data. Alternatively, the student may explore applications of AI in clinical trials by reviewing current literature and building a small prototype, for example in patient–trial matching or optimising clinical trial inclusion criteria. | Computer science | Sutton |
| Group | Group Leader | Project description | Desired background for student | ICR Site Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centre for Target Validation Biology | Joanna Loizou | Working in the Centre for Target Validation Biology team in CCDD. The project would involve doing preliminary experiments to validate anti-cancer targets that are of interest to the centre. The project will be lab based, and the student would learn a number of different cell and molecular biology techniques such as 2D cell culture, western blotting, qPCR, siRNA knockdowns, viability assays. They would also have the opportunity to learn more about early-stage drug discovery and different career avenues in the sector. | We are looking for someone who is studying either biomedical sciences, biochemistry/biology or genetics. No previous lab experience is needed (aside from maybe university lab technicals). We are looking for someone who is keen to learn and is curious about a career in research/biotech. | Sutton |
| Group | Group Leader | Project description | Desired background for student | ICR Site Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medicinal Chemistry 1 | Gurdip Bhalay | Building a Targeted Antibody Drug Conjugate Platform Towards Next Generation Oncology Drugs: The project will use synthetic organic chemistry and bioconjugation to build a library of antibody linker conjugates which can be attached to novel small molecule targeted cancer drugs. | Chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacy, biomedical sciences or natural sciences with organic chemistry modules that wants to carry out synthesis in a lab. | Sutton |
| Medicinal Chemistry 1 | Gurdip Bhalay | Development of methodologies for the electrosynthesis of pharmaceutically relevant molecules.: This project will explore the use of electricity instead of harsh chemical oxidants/reductants, reducing waste and hazardous reagents. Electrical current enables the creation of complex drug building blocks (e.g., for cancer, diabetes, HIV drugs) more efficiently, with fewer steps and higher yields. We will explore the formation of novel chemical bonds (like C-C bonds) with high selectivity, crucial for complex drug structures. | Chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacy, biomedical sciences or natural sciences with organic chemistry modules that wants to carry out synthesis in a lab. | Sutton |
| Medicinal Chemistry 3 | Gary Newton | Paediatric brain tumours often have biological drivers that are distinct from adult tumours and would therefore benefit from dedicated drug discovery and chemical biology programmes focused on this unique biology. The summer studentship within the CRUK Children's Brain Tumour Centre of Excellence (CBTCE), will focus on developing novel small molecule probes and degraders for paediatric brain tumour biological research and drug discovery. | Chemistry degree background, and interest in synthetic chemistry, chemical biology or drug discovery. | Sutton |