Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute

09/03/2026

Atif became interested in a studying computing thanks to a cousin with similar interests. Now he works as a Research Associate in our Ali Group, building AI methods to scale up the data acquisition and analysis of cancer in a spatial context.

Find out more about his journey from computer science to cancer research in the latest episode of Behind the Lab Coat.

https://www.cruk.cam.ac.uk/behind-the-lab-coat/atif-khan-research-associate/

05/03/2026

Thinking about coming to our event on the cancer treatment pipeline?

Check out this preview video with one of our speakers, Professor Jason Carroll who will join us on the night to take you through the story of the PIONEER clinical trial.

Free tickets and all event info: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-cancer-treatment-pipeline-inside-cambridges-bench-to-bedside-journey-tickets-1980870756757

04/03/2026

Team ILLUMINE, featuring the Institute's Prof Greg Hannon and his research group, will receive up to $25m over five years to take on the challenge of the dark proteome.

Cancer Grand Challenges is a global research initiative, co-founded by Cancer Research UK and the National Cancer Institute in the US, that identifies the toughest challenges in cancer research with awards of up to $25m.

With their award, Team ILLUMINE aims to unlock the potential of the cancer dark proteome by comprehensively mapping and characterising its function to uncover novel, potentially universal tumour antigens and develop innovative immunotherapies for hard-to-treat cancers.

Find out more: https://www.cruk.cam.ac.uk/news/hannon-group-joins-global-team-to-decode-cancers-dark-proteome/

26/02/2026

Our Cambridge Festival event is only one month away, so let's meet the speakers.

Professor Jason Carroll and Dr Rebecca Burrell will join us to talk about how a recent clinical trial involving breast-cancer patients from Addenbrooke's Hospital has supported exciting findings about anti-cancer activity in an existing drug.

Dr Michael Gill will take you through how a discovery made our labs is opening the way for gentler treatments for pancreatic cancer: one of the most challenging cancers for patients and researchers.

This is also an opportunity to connect with some of the people behind cancer research in Cambridge and ask any questions you have. We look forward to seeing you at the event.

Secure your free ticket and find full details on our Eventbrite listing: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-cancer-treatment-pipeline-inside-cambridges-bench-to-bedside-journey-tickets-1980870756757

04/02/2026

Our Deputy Director Jason Carroll spoke to ITV News Anglia today on . Watch his interview about some of the vital research being undertaken across the Cambridge Institute on local news tonight from 6pm during the segment on the UK government's National Cancer Plan.

27/01/2026

We are delighted to share the news that Senior Group Leader Prof Sir Steve Jackson has been elected as a Fellow of the Association for Cancer Research Academy in the Class of 2026.

The mission of the is to recognise and honour extraordinary scientists whose groundbreaking contributions have driven significant innovation and progress in the fight against cancer.

The AACR congratulates the newly elected class of Fellows of the AACR Academy. The Academy honors distinguished scientists whose contributions have propelled significant innovation and progress against cancer. Learn more: https://brnw.ch/21wZqOu

14/01/2026

Behind the Lab Coat is back! Get to know the people who are making amazing science happen throughout our Institute in this quick interview series.

As a Principal Scientific Associate in one of our in-house Core Facilities, Ian Hall supports scientists across diverse research topics. Watch his video and find out more about his role in the article linked below.

https://www.cruk.cam.ac.uk/behind-the-lab-coat/ian-hall-principal-scientific-associate/

05/01/2026

A new trial has found that a drug mimicking the hormone progesterone has anti-cancer activity when used together with conventional anti-oestrogen treatment for women with breast cancer.

This progress started with discovery research at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute. Professor Jason Carroll and colleagues helped reveal how progesterone can influence breast cancer growth, laying the groundwork for testing this idea in patients.

That work was then taken into the clinic through the PIONEER trial, led by Dr Richard Baird at the University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Dr Rebecca Burrell, CRUK Cambridge Institute and CUH.

19/12/2025

Our Independent Clinical Fellow Dr Richard Mair is to co-lead the newly established Brain Tumour Research Consortium, funded by a £13.7 million investment from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Brain tumours are among the toughest cancers to treat. This world-leading consortium will help doctors and researchers understand the disease better, test new innovative treatments earlier, and make trials available to more adults and children closer to home.

03/12/2025

New research from our Winton Group has revealed that the order of cancer-driving mutations plays an important role in whether tumours in the intestine can develop. These findings show that early genetic changes can have a significant influence on cancer risk.

The study, published today in Nature, found that many intestinal cells that do carry cancer-driving mutations are then removed through strong negative selection. Only a small minority survive long enough to influence the future development of a tumour.

This work was made possible by our Biological Resource Unit, Genomics, Microscopy, Histopathology and Bioinformatics core facilities.

Find out more: https://www.cruk.cam.ac.uk/news/order-of-cancer-driving-mutations-affects-the-chance-of-tumour-development/

28/11/2025

A grandmother living with a brain tumour says taking part in a pioneering trial changing how researchers prevent, detect and treat cancer has restored "hope and happiness".

Read more: https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2025-11-27/grandmother-says-new-cancer-trial-has-restored-hope-and-happiness

25/11/2025

Congratulations to Aleksandra Janowska who has won this year’s Postgraduate Student Thesis Prize for her work unlocking new avenues for studying the role of cell identity in the origin of cancer.

The Prize is awarded each year to a student who has undertaken an outstanding project to the highest standards during the course of their PhD study at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute.