To commemorate World Cancer Day, we spoke to a multidisciplinary team of researchers from The Institute of Cancer Therapeutics (ICT) based on the University of Bradford about their work in cancer research. 

Please are you able to introduce yourself and tell us about your skilled background and current position on the ICT?  

I’m an Associate Professor in Cancer Biology on the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, University of Bradford. I deal with the in vitro and in vivo screening of novel therapeutics. My essential research interests are drug resistance in colorectal cancer and applying the 3Rs to easy, non-invasive imaging techniques.

My profession has mainly been within the preclinical cancer pharmacology and cancer biology areas. I obtained a Ph.D. from University College London on osteosarcoma biology following chemotherapy after which subsequently held postdoctoral positions at Cardiff University, University of Bath, and University of Otago, where I investigated respectively osteosarcoma biology, homeobox gene regulation and expression, and the characterization of a novel reticuloplasmin.

I subsequently worked in a start-up biotechnology company, Gendel Ltd, in Coleraine, researching a novel drug delivery technology. I then moved to the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics (then generally known as the Cancer Research Unit) on the University of Bradford, where I actually have been for 22 years in various positions. – Dr Steve Shnyder 

My name is Hannah, and I joined the ICT 3 years ago. My cancer research profession began with an undergraduate dissertation project. After my undergraduate project, I used to be keen to develop my research skills, so I began on the lookout for Ph.D. positions. Luckily, a very interesting project was being advertised at Hull York Medical School under the supervision of Dr. Stephen Maher and Prof Michael Lind. The project focused on the role of microRNA in malignant pleural mesothelioma (asbestos-related cancer) resistance to chemotherapy. We uncovered the flexibility of mesothelioma cells to effectively hide chemotherapy away from goal areas and maintain resistance to therapeutics.

I owe much of my passion for research to my supervisors, particularly Dr. Maher, who developed my academic potential and is an excellent mentor. After completing three postdoctoral positions, I made a decision to make the leap to establish my very own lab by applying for the position of lecturer on the ICT, University of Bradford. 

In my current role on the ICT, I’m the principal investigator of a small group of Ph.D./MSc students. My lab is targeted on mesothelioma biology and understanding why this disease is so proof against treatment, mainly through exploring the function of the transportome. – Dr Hannah Moody

I started my journey in science on the University of Havana, where I obtained my degree in Biochemistry. Then I accomplished my Ph.D. in Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology on the Autonomous University of Madrid. I actually have been working in the sphere of nanomedicines for drug delivery at different universities, the University of East Anglia, the University of Strasbourg, Queen’s University Belfast, and now, on the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics (ICT) on the University of Bradford. Currently, I’m leading the group on Drug Delivery on the ICT, and I’m also a lecturer in Biochemistry and Pharmacology on the School of Pharmacy. – Dr Amalia Ruiz 

How have you ever seen the sphere of cancer therapeutics change throughout your profession?

It has modified significantly from reliance on cytotoxic ‘DNA-bashing’ compounds to the delicate targeted therapeutics we now have today. – Dr Steve Shnyder

In the world of drug delivery, where I conduct my research, things have significantly modified within the last 15 years. Within the early 2000s, there was a serious hype for applied nanotechnology in medicine. Drug delivery systems were seen as “magic nanoparticles” targeting the tumor and sparing the healthy organs. 

This boom, and the industrial successes of the primary nanoparticle products, stimulated nanoparticle product developments within the industry. Nonetheless, I actually have seen the sphere evolve over time, and for my part, there at the moment are two kinds of nanoparticles: commercially approved nanoparticles versus “academic” nanoparticles. Sadly, the speed of clinical drug development is mostly slow, and the method is related to a high attrition rate. 

Without delay, we’re observing a slowdown in the sphere of cancer drug delivery. I feel we’re in a moment of reflection, learning from the experience of the few “nanodrugs” which have been successful, seriously considering the challenges that pre-clinical and clinical trials have demonstrated within the last years, and fascinated about how we may help higher the patients. – Dr Amalia Ruiz

What has been probably the most significant breakthrough in cancer therapeutics in recent times?

The conclusion that harnessing the involvement of the tumor microenvironment is essential to controlling tumor growth. – Dr Steve Shnyder

Scientists are investigating genetic and molecular characteristics of cancer tumors in individual patients, and the potential of CRISPR gene editing opens incredible opportunities for editing cells inside the subsequent decade. We’re also seeing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning transforming cancer care. – Dr Amelia Ruiz

What’s probably the most pressing challenge in cancer therapeutics, and the way is that challenge being overcome?

Acquired drug resistance – higher knowledge of resistance-causing aspects and the flexibility to screen patients for susceptibility to resistance (and hence use of different therapy options) will hopefully reduce the incidence. – Dr Steve Shnyder

Image Credit: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.com

The physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles remarkably influence their pharmacological and safety profiles. Very subtle changes in composition and small deviations in the ultimate manufactured products end in significant changes of their therapeutic efficacy and toxicity profile. Control and reproducibility batch-to-batch and standardization of the techniques to characterize their properties are key elements that scientists have to have under control if we would like a protected translation of novel nanosystems into commercially viable medical products within the clinic. – Dr Amalia Ruiz

The theme for World Cancer Day 2023 is #CloseTheCareGap, which began in 2022 and can end in 2024. This 12 months is all about uniting our voices and taking motion. How do you suspect each the research community and most people can support cancer research and patients? 

As researchers, we’d like to take heed to cancer patients more about their needs in order that we will adjust plans for novel treatments accordingly in step with this. As members of most people, we’d like to place more pressure on our elected representatives to enhance health services in order that unnecessary suffering because of avoidable delays in treatment and care becomes a thing of the past. – Dr Steve Shnyder

I think the research community must work closely with patients and their families for higher outcomes in cancer research. I’m a passionate advocate for the patient and public involvement in research, and I feel this needs more emphasis than previously given. Only by truly involving patients in our research design, methods, outcomes, and dissemination can we higher improve patients’ lives. 

Our work as cancer researchers can sometimes seem removed from meaningful interventions. Nonetheless, each piece of recent research delves just a little deeper into understanding how this complex group of diseases could be exploited so we will higher treat cancer and even prevent it from occurring in the primary place. – Dr Hannah Moody

Image Credit: SewCream/Shutterstock.com

On the ICT, we focus our research on developing latest cancer treatments. Nonetheless, as we won’t work isolated within the lab, we try to attach with the general public in another way. There are three stages which can be very necessary for us. The primary one is identifying what the priority topics for our research are. Meeting with patients, carer groups, and members of the general public is essential on this process so we will design our research to take care of their needs. The second stage is the preparation of the study. Lots of the funding bodies have a panel that mixes scientists and members of the general public

The third stage that can also be very necessary for us is disseminating our results. Sharing our results should not be only via a scientific article publication. We’d like to get in contact with patients, carers, and doctors to boost awareness, orientate, and provides higher support to the people who can profit from these treatments. 

We’re working in lots of events where researchers and members of the general public can come together, be curious, and chat about research in a relaxed environment outside of mysterious laboratories or daunting dark lecture theatres. For instance, aligned with the celebration of World Cancer Day, we shall be celebrating the FROLIC Festival: (FROLIC=Fun day Related tO Learning concerning the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics), and it’ll happen in The Broadway shopping mall in Bradford, on Saturday 4th of February, from 10.00am to 13.00pm. 

Since we’re within the university environment, we even have an academic focus. On the University of Bradford School of Pharmacy, we teach different modules where we invite patients to get in contact with our students to complement their skilled training. We also make a major effort to coach our students to reflect on their community’s demographic and cultural characteristics to enhance their engagement with the patients. We embed, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in all our programs to deal with bias problems in patient care. – Dr Amalia Ruiz

What’s next for you and your research?

To proceed investigating novel mechanisms of drug resistance in colorectal cancer. -Dr Steve Shnyder

My group is working on the potential repurposing of several drugs for mesothelioma treatment and modifying the chemical structures of certain molecules to enhance drug efficacy in collaboration with my incredible colleague Dr. Deborah Crawford. Moving forward, we hope to expand the group and collaborate with international colleagues on other thoracic cancer-focused projects. – Dr Hannah Moody

The Royal Society is currently funding interesting research into developing thermosensitive liposomes for combinatory therapy in prostate cancer treatment. There may be an urgent have to overcome the issues with chemotherapeutics’ systemic toxicity in cancer treatment. This project goals to organize a formulation that could be activated using a Near Infrared laser and release the drug on the tumor site. – Dr Amalia Ruiz

Where can readers find more information?

• On the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics website: www.brad.ac.uk/ict/
• On twitter:
  • @Hannah_L_Moody 
  • @Amyruizestrada