The recent CHORAL Children’s Cancer Translational Research meeting brought together leading scientists, clinicians, and partners to accelerate the journey from bench to bedside.
The event focused on transferring scientific breakthroughs into clinical practice to benefit young patients, while fostering collaborations beyond Leeds to drive innovation.
⭐ Professor Sue Burchill opened the meeting by emphasising the biological differences between childhood and adult cancers. She highlighted the need for personalised medicine and reducing treatment associated toxicities.
🧬 Dr Joan Boyes presented ground-breaking research showing that DNA rings—once thought to disappear—can persist, replicate, and potentially contribute to cancer growth and recurrence. You can read more about Joan’s research here.
🎯 Dr Liz Roundhill showcased her work exploiting the surfaceome in Ewing Sarcoma to develop targeted treatments that specifically kill cancer cells and minimise toxicity.
🦠 Dr Richard Baugh explored the promise of oncolytic viruses, a novel immunotherapy that selectively infects and destroys cancer cells. These viruses can be engineered to sensitise treatment resistant cancer cells to promising novel treatments.
🔍 Dr Matthew Batchelor discussed targeting the interaction between N-Myc and Aurora-A kinase as a therapeutic strategy.
🧪 Dr Anne Thomson introduced the VIVO Biobank, the UK’s leading resource for storing samples and data from cancers affecting children and young people—an essential tool for translational research.
📈 Dr Martin Elliott provided an overview of the Paediatric Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC), a national initiative aimed at improving clinical outcomes for children with cancer through early-phase trials and collaborative research.
The event concluded with rapid-fire presentations, followed by a poster and networking session, sparking innovative ideas and partnerships to move science forward.
🙏 Thank You
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended and presented, and to the valued partners and supporters in attendance:
- ⭐ Candlelighters
- ⭐ Bone Cancer Research Trust
- ⭐ VIVO Biobank
- ⭐ Cheney Biomedical Accelerator
- ⭐ NIHR INSIGHT Programme for Yorkshire and Humber
Your contributions and commitment are helping shape the future of childhood cancer research and care.
