Annual Convergence Symposium

The CRUK Convergence Science Centre hosts an annual symposium to showcase how convergence science can empower innovations in cancer research. Over the years, the Centre has championed the merging of engineering, physical sciences, life sciences and medicine to develop novel ways to address challenges in cancer research. Our symposium is an opportunity to come together with colleagues from across the Institute of Cancer Research, the Royal Marsden, Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and to explore the technological progresses we accomplished collectively.

Our CRUK Convergence Science Centre 2022 Symposium was organised the 7th of December 2022 at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel. On this occasion we also welcomed our local research community, research funding bodies and other major initiatives such as the NIHR Biomedical Research Centres and Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres to accelerate the translation of research for patient benefit.

2022 Symposium Programme

2022-2027 CRUK Centre Overview

Prof Axel Behrens (Scientific Director, CRUK Convergence Science Centre)

Session 1 Chair: Prof David Cunningham

NIHR BRC Overview

Prof David Cunningham (Director, Marsden BRC)

Clinical Delivery: Forward and Reverse Translation

Prof Johann de Bono (Director of the Drug Development Unit, ICR)

Transforming Brain Cancer Resection with Real-Time, Multi-Scale Imaging

Dr Stamatia Giannarou (Senior Lecturer, Hamlyn Centre for Robotic Surgery, Imperial)

Training Convergence Scientists: Dr Garrick Wilson

Drug Delivery to a Paediatric Tumour Model Using Short-pulse Focused Ultrasound and Microbubble Exposure

Dani Chatterton (Convergence Science Centre PhD Student)

Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting for Brain Tumours

Simran Kukran (Convergence Science Centre PhD Student)

Super-resolution imaging to assess epigenetic evolution in ovarian high grade serous carcinoma

Mi Lim (Convergence Science Centre PhD Student)

Session 2 Chair: Prof Iain McNeish

Imperial NIHR BRC Overview

Prof Iain McNeish (BRC Cancer theme lead and Head of Cancer Division, Imperial)

Microfluidic Selection of T Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy by Cellular Avidity

Dr Sam Au (Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Bioengineering, Imperial)

Unravelling the Tumour Microenvironment Using Convergence Science

Dr Navita Somaiah (Team Leader / Clinician Scientist, ICR)

Breath Test to Detect Gastrointestinal Cancers

Prof George Hanna (Head of Dept. Surgery & Cancer, Imperial)

Keynote Address Michelle Mitchell (CEO, CRUK)

Introduction by Prof Kristian Helin (CEO, ICR)