Resources

Advanced Cancer Imaging

The Advanced Cancer Imaging programme combines scientific excellence and state-of-the-art imaging facilities to develop novel technologies to look inside cancer cells. The aim of advancing imaging technologies and applications draws on Cambridge’s strengths in chemistry, physics, applied mathematics and engineering, and is an important component of our clinical research programmes across a wide range of cancer types.

A diverse range of imaging technologies are being developed, covering both new and existing imaging modalities, in pre-clinical and clinical research. As part of our work with ICM novel imaging biomarkers of tumour cell death to detect early treatment response in patients with cancer are being developed and translated. Our approach leverages the world-leading expertise and infrastructure at Cambridge (including the only hyperpolarised-probe pharmacy in Europe) to develop novel PET and MR imaging probes, including 18F-labelled C2Am, hyperpolarised [1,4-13C2] fumarate and advanced diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) methods.

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Cambridge Blood and Stem Cell Biobank (CBSB)

The CBSB is a tissue bank for blood and blood related samples from patients with haematological malignancies, autoimmune diseases, cancers and normal individuals, including cord blood. We work under a tissue bank ethics approval for the department of Haematology; which extends to Cambridge cancer centre and Cambridge stem cell institute researchers.

Existing samples and prospective collections are available to researchers working on ethically approved studies in malignant blood disorders, autoimmune disorders, cancer and normal blood development. We are also the repository for the UK Myeloproliferative Disorders (MPD) sample bank, and several clinical trials for this group of disorders. We are able to provide specialist biospecimen handling services, including cell selections and cultures, liquid nitrogen storage and provide advice to scientists interested in these techniques.

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Cambridge Cancer Trials Centre (CCTC)

The CCTC aims to translate the latest scientific breakthroughs in the laboratory into clinical practice to improve patient outcomes for the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer. The breadth of clinical research is extensive spanning both early and late phase studies. The CCTC team of around 100 clinical staff, researchers and administrators manages a portfolio of over 250 clinical trials, including around 120 open to recruitment, to test new ways of detecting and treating a wide range of cancers.

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Cambridge Clinical Informatics (CCI)

CCI was established in 2014 with the overall aim of using modern technologies to support research, develop effective interventions for healthcare delivery, and improve the ability to provide cutting-edge healthcare in the safest, most timely way possible. CCI runs and manages a full ethically approved research data warehouse, comprising data on over 3 million patients populated from our electronic patient record systems, supporting translational research for the Cambridge NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. CCI also implemented a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) in 2017 which currently supports seven laboratories including the Cancer Molecular Diagnostic Lab (CMDL), CUH Human Research Tissue Bank and Cancer Research UK (CRUK). This offers all users one single system for the management of research samples whilst allowing them to capture their own data in a secure and robust manner.

For further information please email the CCI team: cambrcci@addenbrookes.nhs.uk

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Cambridge Service for Data-Driven Discovery (CSD3)

CSD3 is a provider of computer resources to the EPSRC Tier2, STFC DiRAC and STFC IRIS national services. They provide access to the CSD3 system for researchers who wish to develop innovative computational methods that exploit some of the unique features of the system. These features may include the heterogeneous architecture of Peta4 and Wilkes2, the accelerated storage, and the close integration with openstack and big-data systems.

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Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH)

The Cambridge Biomedical Campus is home to two leading NHS Foundation Trusts: Cambridge University Hospitals NHS FT (Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital) and Royal Papworth Hospital NHS FT. Research is central to CUH’s identity as a leading NHS hospital and development as an academic research centre. All MFICM prospective clinical trials and research studies are conducted in one of the two CUHs.

Cambridge is home to one of the richest pools of clinical and scientific knowledge and expertise not only in the country but in the world. At CUH this is reflected in clinical teams working in the hospital alongside world-class scientists. Doctors and scientists collaborate across disciplines and specialties and it is this co-existence of experience and expertise that fosters translational research – turning basic science into new drugs and new therapies giving patients innovative and excellent care.

Addenbrookes

Royal Papworth

Cancer Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory (CMDL)

With the aim to provide a shared infrastructure for the CRUK CC clinical research programmes the Cancer Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory was set up in August 2015 using funds from NIHR BRC and the CRUK Cambridge Centre to provide clinically actionable genomic results for patients on clinical trials and clinical studies. CMDL is currently operating under GCP/GCLP standards.

For further information please see the CMDL website

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Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute (CRUK CI)

Established in 2007, the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute was the first major new cancer research centre in the UK for over 50 years.

The Institute’s aim is to combine world leading basic cancer biology with key technologies to bear on practical questions of cancer diagnosis, treatment and prevention. The state-of-the-art core facilities play a key role in catalysing science, not only within the Institute, but across Cambridge through multiple collaborations. Each facility provides equipment, support and training as well as the capacity to develop bespoke technologies. The core funding provided by Cancer Research UK allows each of our Group Leaders the freedom to expand their programme of work and follow innovative new ideas.

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Computer Laboratory

Data Integration is the central element of the MFICM approach. It brings together the themes of genomics (somatic, germline, ctDNA), imaging and clinical data and focuses on innovative approaches to analyses in a near real-time and longitudinal fashion. It uses both retrospectively and prospectively collected data from clinical trials to explore these analyses. The overarching goal is to deliver a new paradigm in personalised cancer treatment which integrates multi-modality analyses in real-time that improves treatment selection and ultimately prognosis.

The ICM Computer lab comprises mathematicians and statisticians from a variety of departments across the University of Cambridge with the core team embedded in the Computer Science department.

For more information on the specific team members who are engaged with ICM, see the Team page

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Molecular Imaging Centre (MIC)

This cutting edge, clinical imaging resource includes PET/CT, PET/MRI, MRI/MRS, 7T/3T clinical MRI and two clinical hyperpolarisers as well as clinical photoacoustic imaging. Our GMP-grade molecular imaging pharmacy – established as first in Europe to produce 13C-labelled substrates for clinical hyperpolariser imaging – generates hyperpolarised 13C-labelled substrates for highly-sensitive, real-time, in vivo imaging of tumour treatment response (pyruvate and lactate [both patented]), cell death (fumerate), pH (bicarbonate), and redox (ascorbate) in clinical trial patients. Advanced endoscopy approaches are also being developed with the Aerodigestive Cancer and Early Cancer Detection Programmes to visualise early transforming intestinal and bronchial epithelium.

NCITA Imaging Repository

Professor Sala is the Cambridge Principal Investigator of the CRUK funded National Cancer Imaging Translational Accelerator (NCITA) award. She is also the chair of its Repository Unit, whose aim is to build a common image data repository and establish a fast and robust pipeline across seven different UK institutions (University of Cambridge, ICR, University College London, Oxford, Manchester, King’s College London and Imperial College London). This collaboration aims to expand our capabilities in cancer research by building a unified infrastructure for discovery, validation and adoption of cancer imaging biomarkers into clinical trials and the NHS.

The Advanced Cancer Imaging group is working on building one of the NCITA repository nodes that will contain anonymised images and related metadata, and will be connected with other institutions via an NCITA XNAT federation. Our repository is a web-based database using the XNAT software (developed by the Neuroinformatics Research Group at the Washington University), and it is deployed using the cloud server of the High Performance Computing services of the University of Cambridge. It is available in https://ncita.xnat.radiology.medschl.cam.ac.uk/. Please contact us for more information and documentation: imaging@crukcambridgecentre.org.uk

Further work from our team will involve development and integration in XNAT of advanced segmentation tools, such as NVIDIA Clara tools.

Translational Histopathology (THP) formerly Human Research Tissue Bank (HRTB)

THP (aka HRTB) is mainly funded by the Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). It is situated on level 5 of the Pathology lab block at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, enabling close working relationships with consultant histopathologists and access to the diagnostic Histopathology archive. It offers a range of tissue and histological services for translational research and drug discovery purposes. It currently supports over 300 clinical trials/research studies.

THP can provide rapid, fresh tissue handling (with assessment if requested) of cancer biopsies and resections from all surgical specialities (exc. cardiac and respiratory) as well as mirrored samples of tumour and background tissue to enable high quality downstream techniques.

For further information please contact tissuebank@addenbrookes.nhs.uk