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.

 

 

 

2024

 

Our CRUK Convergence Science Centre 2022 Symposium was organised the 17th of January 2024 at the he Royal Geographical Society (London). The focal theme of our symposium "Engineering Cancer Research" was centred on the transformative impact of engineering in revolutionising both discovery and clinical research within the field of oncology. This event highlighted the vital role of engineering principles and design methodologies in advancing cancer research, maintaining a steadfast focus on patient-centric approaches. We explored how engineering can significantly alter traditional research paradigms, leading to more effective, bespoke, and compassionate patient care.

 

2024 Symposium Programme

 

Morning Session

 

Enhancing EDI in Participatory Research: Elevating Participation and Methodology in Cancer Research and Engineering Innovations

Organisers: Dr Patrick Kierkegaard (CSC), Ms Kelly Gleason (Imperial), Dr Markella Boudioni (RMH)

 

Afternoon Session

 

Welcome

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

 

 

Session 1 Chair: Prof Kristian Helin

Professor Rylie Green – Head of the Bioengineering Department at Imperial College London

Professor Udai Banerji – Co-Director of the Drug Development Unit (The ICR –Royal Marsden)
Dr Paul Huang – Deputy Director of the Joint Royal Marsden-ICR Sarcoma Research Centre

Professor Yan Yan Sheri Huang – CRUK Cambridge Centre, Department of Bioengineering, University of Cambridge

 

Lymphoedema Awareness Project

Kelly Gleason & Sonal  Thakrar 

 

Convergence Student Talks

Melanie Herpels

Joseph Broomfield


Session 2 Chair: Prof George Hanna

Professor Dow-Mu Koh – Co-Director AI imaging Hub at The Royal Marsden NIHR BRC

Professor Sadaf Ghaem-Maghami – Department of Surgery & Cancer at Imperial College London

Professor Constantin Coussios – Director of the Oxford Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford

 

 

 


Keynote Address - Prof Mehmet Toner (Havard-MIT)

servlet

Introduction by Prof the Lord Ara Darzi

 

2022

 

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)