Teams
Funded teams
These four Grand Challenge teams have each combined bold, novel approaches with unique international and multidisciplinary collaborations. Read about the successful projects in more detail and find out about the teams themselves.
Identifying preventable causes of cancer
In a project of epic scale that spans 5 continents, Professor Stratton’s team aim to build a deeper understanding of what causes DNA damage and how it leads to cancer. Their work could help prevent more cancers and reduce the global burden of this disease.
Creating virtual reality maps of tumours
Combining established techniques with new technology, Professor Hannon’s team will build 3D tumours containing every cell in them, which can be studied using virtual reality. This new way of studying breast cancer could change how the disease is diagnosed, treated and managed.
Preventing unnecessary breast cancer treatment
By studying tissue samples from women with DCIS (a condition which can sometimes develop into breast cancer), Dr Wesseling’s team aims to determine how to distinguish between those who need treatment and those who don’t, which could spare thousands of women unnecessary treatment.
Studying tumour metabolism from every angle
Using various new mass spectrometry imaging techniques, the team led by Dr Bunch will develop a new way to map tumours in unprecedented detail – from the whole tumour to the individual molecules in cells. The work could lead to new ways to diagnose and treat cancer.
Shortlisted teams
Eradicating cancer by vaccination against the tumour blood supply
Prof. Roy Bicknell, University of Birmingham
Creating a 4D cancer atlas to track cancer’s journey
Prof. Ehud Shapiro, Weizmann Institute of Science
Lethal vs non-lethal prostate cancer: distinguishing the tigers from the pussycats
Prof. Freddie Hamdy, University of Oxford
Can multiple myeloma help us determine what makes a cancer lethal?
Dr Surinder Sahota, University of Southampton