MFICM timeline

Much of the early concept and ideas for integrated cancer medicine is based on the work from the Breast Translational Research Programme, led by Professor Carlos Caldas.

The foundation of the ICM theme and its progression towards real world impact

The ICM programme has developed and expanded significantly since its inception with additional resources and core groups in breast, ovarian, renal, pancreatic cancer and B-Cell Lymphoma as well as imaging and computational analysis groups.

The aim of the MFICM is to generate longitudinal Data Streams that simultaneously report the functional biology of tumours among cancer patients receiving active treatment, leveraging world-leading expertise in Cambridge. The continual, iterative and integrated analysis of these complementary and complex data streams – made possible by advanced machine learning and other computational approaches – will enable a new decision matrix for optimal cancer treatment selection and improved chance of cure.

2016

Personalised Breast Cancer Programme initiated
Professor Caldas’ pioneering breast cancer programme (Personalised Breast Cancer Programme), which reads DNA and RNA information like a barcode to tailor treatment is initiated. The pilot phase of the PBCP begins in November 2016; a collaboration between Cancer Research UK and Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust to test if genetic results can be returned to the medical team and patient within 12 week time frame.

 

2016

Integrated Cancer Medicine Theme identified
The Integrated Cancer Medicine theme is identified as part of the CRUK Cambridge Centre 5-year vision in order to establish the practice of precision cancer medicine. It aims to change the way cancer is treated; moving from a reactive system that waits for cancer to present, to a proactive, personalised strategy for all patients that detects cancer in its earliest form, intervenes precisely, and closely monitors the disease with non-invasive technologies.

2017

The Mark Foundation Collaboration initiated
Multiple projects are identified and stimulated by discussions with The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research, the first proposal for a collaboration is submitted in September 2017.

2018

The Mark Foundation Institute for Integrated Cancer Medicine established
The MFICM; a virtual Institute combining resources from Integrated Cancer Medicine at the CRUK Cambridge Centre and The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research is founded to integrate multiple data streams in the context of a prospective clinical scenario, thereby providing proof of principle for an integrated cancer medicine approach within a 3-year time period. Year 1; the exploratory phase is aimed at developing the algorithmic approaches and data streams necessary to integrate two data streams using retrospective data.

2018

The Personalised Breast Cancer Programme further developed
After the successful completion of the pilot phase, the Personalised Breast Cancer Programme receives additional funding from Cancer Research UK and The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research and has capacity to roll PBCP out to another 2,000 patients.

2019

MFICM Progression
A workshop in June 2019 identified projects around specific clinically relevant questions. The projects are coalesced around prospective clinical trials in specific tumour types: breast, renal, pancreatic, ovarian and B-cell lymphoma. Year 2; the prototype phase is aimed at integrating three or more data streams.

2020

Opening of Clinical Trials
Prospective clinical data is starting to be generated from trials in Breast, Ovarian, Renal, Pancreatic and B-cell lymphoma. Approaches for the interpretation and visualisation of data are developed in the form of algorithms to enable development of potentially predictive clinical tools. Year 3; the implementation phase where multiple data streams are integrated in the context of a prospective clinical trial scenario.

2022

Integrated Cancer Medicine Institute
Following a successful proof of concept phase, the aim is to secure funding for an Institute which will ultimately be situated within the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital.

2026

Precision Cancer Medicine for Cancer Patients in Cambridge
Aim to integrate clinical, genomic, imaging, mathematical and computer science technologies making Integrated Cancer Medicine part of standard of care in the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital.

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The Mark Foundation Institute for Integrated Cancer Medicine (MFICM) at the University of Cambridge aims to revolutionise cancer care by affecting patients along their treatment pathway.

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