Sheffield Cancer Research Centre Newsletter
Issue 2 – June 2013
Welcome to the SCRC Newsletter
The newsletter is for sharing information on activities and developments. There are sections on news;
awards, achievements; and events. We hope you find the newsletter informative and useful. If you have
any information or news you would like to share with colleagues in the Centre then please contact
Lance Burn (l.burn@sheffield.ac.uk) or Deborah Reid (deborah.reid@sheffield.ac.uk)
News
Congratulations to Dr Sarah Daniels
Sarah has received a Training & Career Development Board Research Bursary for £24,000 from Cancer Research UK. Her
project will be 'Epigenetic modification of the BRCA1 promoter
and breast cancer phenotype' with Professor Angie Cox.
Sarah received a BSc in Experimental Pathology in 2007 and
her MBChB Honours from the University of Edinburgh College
of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine in 2010. She then
undertook an Academic Foundation Programme based in
Sheffield with the year 2 academic research slot being carried
out in the Department of Surgical Oncology under Professor
Angie Cox and Ms Lynda Wyld looking at Epigenetic
Modification of BRCA1 and Triple Negative Breast Cancer.
In Sarah's own words 'Process of applying for the CRUK fellowship - As a NIHR funded ACF I knew
that I would have a nine month period of dedicated research time during my second year but that we
would need to find funding for the laboratory costs. I had heard of the CRUK fellowships for health
professionals, found that I was eligible to apply and also checked when the twice yearly deadlines
were. I had already decided to continue my work on breast cancer epigenetics for my ACF project and
was fortunate to have strong preliminary data from my previous work'.
'I started preparing the application about four months before the deadline as I knew that it would require
input from several different people including both my supervisors, other collaborators and
administrative staff at the University. The application went through numerous different drafts right up
until the deadline and was quite an exhausting process! I was fortunate to be awarded sufficient funds
to support both the laboratory costs and some of a research technician’s time. I am grateful to Cancer
Research UK for generously supporting this project'.
News cont…
Congratulations to Dr Bill Noble
Dr Bill Noble who has been appointed as the Medical Director of
Marie Curie Cancer Care.
The Medical Director of Marie Curie Cancer Care is the medical
advisor for the charity, responsible for clinical governance, quality
assurance and research. The post holder is responsible for the
professional standards of medical staff who work in the nine
hospices run by Marie Curie and as an Executive Board member,
makes a strategic contribution to ensuring that the charity’s vision
and values are realised. The charity plans to increase investment
and resources dedicated to research into the ways that Marie
Curie’s services can be made more inclusive, effective and efficient
and the Medical Director has Board level responsibility for building
and directing research programmes.
Race for Life
A Team of staff from the University of Sheffield will be running in the Race for Life event in Sheffield on
Sunday 9th June 2013 joined by friends and family. The Team is called the Sheffield Cancer Research
Centre Runners and they would really appreciate your support. Last year the team took part in the
event and raised £1344.00. Please help them to raise even more this year. This is an inspirational
event, so for those of you who live in Sheffield, support on race day to encourage, motivate and
invigorate our tiring limbs, would be most welcome. The following is the link to the team’s fund-raising
page. If you feel able make a contribution to this worthy cause, no matter how small, this would be
much appreciated. http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/scrc-runners-2013. The current Team
members include:
Staff:
Susan Bridgeford (Faculty)
Bex Clark (Faculty)
Nicola Brown (Oncology)
Steph Allen (Oncology)
Louise Goss (Oncology)
Angie Cox (Oncology)
Susan Furness (Oncology)
Helen Mason (Oncology
Sarah Jackson (Oncology)
Lynne Bingle (Dentistry)
Jodie Burnham (I & I)
Sarcoma UK Funding Pays Off
A Sarcoma UK-funded research team in Sheffield (awarded £75,790 in 2010 to research DNA repair
genes and cell cycle regulators as a predisposing cause of sarcomas) have adapted a technique which
will allow them to study archived tumour samples in a way they could not be studied previously. Much
larger numbers of samples are now available for use in this project, increasing the potential to further
sarcoma knowledge worldwide. Researcher Karen Sisley gives us the details.
Little is known about the genetic background of most sarcomas, but for a few types of sarcoma there
are specific genetic alterations that are of clinical value. We had done some initial investigations which
suggested that even sarcomas with high levels of genetic instability, and considered to have nonspecific changes, may actually have consistent alterations that could be clinically relevant. The project
was designed to look for specific and characteristic changes in a wide range of sarcoma subtypes, and
also to see if any changes were common to all sarcomas.
As we wanted to gain the most complete overall impression of the genetic changes in sarcoma
subtypes, we used a technique called array comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH), that looks
at the losses and gains of all chromosomes that can occur in cancer. As some sarcoma subtypes are
very rare it is often difficult to get large enough numbers to study. To gain sufficient samples of these
rare subtypes we needed to analyze material from archival stores of sarcomas. These samples have
been preserved using formalin, which is how classically all samples from all tumours are stored.
Unfortunately the process of formalin fixation causes problems for genetic studies, as the preservation
interferes with DNA. The array CGH technique was therefore previously considered not to be suitable
for use on formalin fixed preserved material, and as such could not be used to study archival stores of
formalin fixed sarcomas. We set out to address this issue, and Azeez Salawu working with Aliya UlHassan and Dave Hammond were able to successfully adapt the technique, so that array CGH can
now be reliably used to analyze formalin preserved tumours.
Azeez Salawu & Aliya Ul-Hassan meet Roger Wilson, Honorary President of Sarcoma UK.
Worldwide most samples taken from tumours are stored as formalin fixed samples, and most pathology
laboratories will have samples stored dating back decades. There are therefore large numbers of
tumours in these preserved banks that can be used for research purposes. Until now however these
samples were not suitable for array CGH. The methodological development by Salawu et al therefore
has international implications, with the possibility for all archival samples of cancers to now be analyzed
using array CGH. With ethically approval we have already been able to analyze samples approaching
20 years old, but it may be possible to go even further back into the archives. The potential to increase
the number of tumours for research worldwide is therefore highly significant. The development of this
protocol is particularly relevant to sarcomas, as the use of archival samples will increase the number of
tumours that are available and will help in identifying the genetic changes in these rare subtypes.
The immediate plan will be to search back through the archives of sarcomas, some of which have been
stored for more than 20 years, and see if we can expand our series of the rare subtypes for
characterization. Similar studies are now possible for any centre investigating sarcomas, so the chance
exists now to increase our genetic understanding to the background of these rare and previously
difficult to characterize sarcomas. Our next steps are to investigate a candidate gene we have identified
in one such subset of sarcomas using this methodology.
Events
9th June - Race for Life, Sheffield – this year’s event is to be held at the Meadowhall Shopping Centre
starting at 9.30am. If you would like to join the SCRC team, please contact Mrs Louise Goss –
telephone 0114 271 3326, email l.goss@sheffield.ac.uk. If you would like to help at any of the following
stands: YCR, WPHCC, CR-UK, please contact Mr Andy Wilson – email andy.wilson@cruk.org.uk or Dr
Lance Burn – telephone 0114 271 3516, email l.burn@sheffield.ac.uk
Race for Life 2012 Team
Diary Dates
Seminar Series – for information, please see: http://www.shef.ac.uk/sheffield-cancer-researchcentre/news-and-events/seminar-series
5th July 2013 – ‘Translational Cancer Research – from Lab to Clinic’ Workshop – This workshop is to be
held at The Ridge, Ranmoor Student Village, Sheffield from 10.00am to 16.30pm. The aims of this
workshop are:
1. To educate clinicians and scientists on how to translate laboratory discoveries into the clinic.
2. To showcase Centre / ECMC successes to invited stakeholders (Industry, NCRN, CR-UK, YCR).
3. To share best practice and develop collaborative links.
Registration can be made at http://www.shef.ac.uk/sheffield-cancer-research-centre/news-andevents/tcr-booking-form
26th July 2013 - CR-UK/YCR Sheffield Cancer Research Centre’s Summer Barbecue – 4.30pm until
late. Dam House Restaurant off Mushroom Lane at Crook Valley Park. Open to all staff/students CRUK/YCR Sheffield Cancer Research Centre and friends, family and kids. Adult tickets £5.00, Children
under ten, £2.50. Starting at 4.30pm with kids disco and bouncy castle with Crooks Valley Park outside
and its playground. Barbecue & Hog Roast from 5.30pm-7.00pm. Burgers, hot dogs, chicken
skewers, vegetable skewers, chips, salad, coleslaw. A selection of desserts including cheesecakes,
cakes, gateaux and profiteroles. Halal, vegetarian and other requirements will be catered to if advance
notice is given. Band (TBA) from 7.00pm-9.00pm. Light snacks/nibbles 9.00pm. Disco 9.00pm –
late. Bar until 12.30am. Optional dress code of American tourist in Hawaii (loud shirts, ridiculous
shorts/skirts, prize for best/worst dressed tourist). For further information and to book, please contact
Toby Holmes, tel 0114 271 3454, email t.holmes@sheffield.ac.uk.
13th September 2013 - Neuro Oncology – This workshop is to be held at SiTraN from 12.30pm to
17.30pm (details to follow). Please save the date: http://www.shef.ac.uk/sheffield-cancer-researchcentre/workshops
11th October 2013 - SCRC - INSIGNEO Workshop – This workshop is to be held at The Edge from
10.00am to 17.00pm (details to follow). Please save the date: http://www.shef.ac.uk/sheffield-cancerresearch-centre/workshops
28th February 2014 – Annual Cancer Research Forum – please save the date, details to follow.
External Events
23rd – 28th June 2013 - 2nd Summer School on Computational Oncology – This event is to be held at
Schloss Dagstuhl in Wadern, Germany. This summer school will provide basic training in the new
research dimension of computational oncology in the context of the fast evolving
cancer modeling and validation advances within personalized medicine. For further information
regarding the registration process, the venue and the programme, please visit
www.computationaloncology.org
25th – 28th June 2013 – EACR Summer Conference: Cancer Genomics – This conference is to be held
at Churchill College, Cambridge. Keynote speakers include Sam Aparicio – Canada, Shankar
Balasubramania – UK, Ann-Lise Borresen-Dale – Norway. The objective of the conference will be to
cover recent and exciting developments in Cancer Genomics, as well as to provide an overview of the
field. It will bring together scientists from different disciplines, such as cancer biology, translational
research, bioinformatics, and epigenomics. For further information please click
www.eacr.org/cancergenomics2013
4th July 2013 - Academy of Medical Sciences Run Workshop - Want to present your research and ideas
effectively in front of an audience or funding panel? Want to get better at balancing your clinical and
academic responsibilities? Do you need to take a step back and remind yourself what you want from
your career? The workshop is especially aimed at postdoctoral researchers. Places are free. For more
information and o book, please contact: Selda Boztepe, Programme Officer, Academy of Medical
Sciences, selda.boztepe@acmedsci.ac.uk or 020 3176 2162.
Internal Funding Opportunities
The CR-UK/YCR Sheffield Cancer Research Centre has a funding scheme to support consumables for
Academic F2 and Academic Clinical Fellow Projects - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/sheffield-cancerresearch-centre/funding-opportunities/af2-acf-project-funding
The Scheme will provide a consumable budget for Academic F2s and Academic Clinical Fellows doing
research projects - £6,000 maximum. There is no deadline for this call. Please submit your application
to Dr Lance Burn (l.burn@sheffield.ac.uk).
Further Funding Opportunities
CR-UK Career Establishment Awards. This Award supports the best new non-clinical and clinical
investigators to develop their independent career in cancer research. Successful applicants will have
shown scientific excellence and originality in their career to date, but will not have had the core support
to establish their own research group in a cancer-relevant field. The Award provides five years of
funding to investigators who are in their first Higher Education Funding Council-funded post at a UK
university. For further information: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/science/funding/find-grant/allfunding-schemes/career-establishment-award/
Breast Cancer Campaign is now accepting applications for Project, PhD and Pilot grants to be
considered for its November 2013 grants round. Breast Cancer Campaign welcomes applications in
all areas of breast cancer research including genetics, biology, growth, diagnosis, treatment, emotional
impact, prevention and education. If you have any queries or would like to be kept up-to-date with
future funding opportunities, please email: grants_admin@breastcancercampaign.org. The closing
date for applications is 1 July 2013. For further information visit
http://www.breastcancercampaign.org/our-science/apply-for-a-research-grant to download grant
funding information documents and more information on how to apply for a grant using the Breast
Cancer Campaign Grants Online portal.
Breast Cancer Campaign welcomes applications in all areas of breast cancer research including
genetics, biology, growth, diagnosis, treatment, emotional impact, prevention and education. Future
Campaign Application Deadlines:
Award Type
Application Deadline
Funded in
Project grants
1 July 2013 – Now open
November 2013
PhD studentships
1 July 2013 – Now open
November 2013
Pilot grants
2 September 2013
November 2013
Fellowship grants
September 2013 (tbc)
June 2014
Project grants
January 2014 (tbc)
June 2014
Pilot grants
March 2014 (tbc)
June 2014
The Breast Cancer Campaign Tissue Bank is now open!
Breast Cancer Campaign are now accepting applications for tissue from any researcher working in
the UK or Ireland. For more details, and to apply for tissue, visit www.breastcancertissuebank.org
Research
The National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative (NAEDI) formally launched in 2008 as a
partnership between the Department of Health, National Cancer Action Team and Cancer Research
UK. Through a variety of means, to promote earlier diagnosis of cancer, increasing access to
optimal treatment and thereby improving survival rates and reducing cancer mortality.
The RDS have been asked to support this scheme which is being part funded by NIHR.
Further information is available on the link below. Wendy Baird (w.o.baird@sheffield.ac.uk) will be
representing the RDS delivering a session at the workshop and giving advice, with RDS colleagues
from London, at the event scheduled for the 28th June.
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/science/funding/find-grant/all-funding-schemes/naedi-researchworkstream/
Summer Students
French fourth year academic student - at the Graduate School of Chemistry of Montpellier (ENSCM)
looking for a 3-month long summer internship - from early June to late August 2013. For details
please contact Deborah Reid (Deborah.Reid@sheffield.ac.uk).
Career Opportunities
Clinical Research Training Fellow: Antibody Therapy – Medicine. Location: Southampton General
Hospital. Salary: £31,838 to £56,312. Full Time Fixed Term. Closing Date: Saturday 15 June
2013. Reference: 239313F5.
This post offers the opportunity to play a key role in the development of novel antibody therapy,
translating from our laboratory discovery programme into first-in-man clinical trials. It is designed to
fulfil the requirements for an out-of-programme experience for a specialist trainee in oncology,
haematology, surgery, pathology or other disciplines related to cancer, but may also be suitable for
an individual who does not have a national training number and wishes to pursue a career in the
cancer immunotherapy field. You will take part in a structured training programme of research
leading to submission of a higher degree (PhD or MD), and there are excellent opportunities to
maintain your clinical skills within the Southampton Cancer Centre.
For further information - https://www.jobs.soton.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?ref=239313F5
Postdoctoral Position Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones
Oncológicas, Madrid.
Functional Analysis of Cancer Genes
Pancreatic cancer and bladder cancer are the main interests of our group. The two tumors are very
different but highly interesting models of cancer progression. Our laboratory makes use of patient
samples, cultured cells, and genetic mouse models to analyze new genes/pathways involved in the
development of these tumors using a variety of experimental strategies, including those based on
massive parallel sequencing.
In the last few years we have identified novel players involved in pancreatic cancer development
through the combined study of the cell biology and genetics of this tumor. In bladder cancer, we
entertain a massive parallel sequencing exome effort that has led to the identification of new cancer
genes whose function is currently being analyzed. In both tumors, we plan to bring this knowledge
to the clinical setting to improve diagnosis, assessment of prognosis, or develop new therapeutic
strategies.
The laboratory is now seeking a postdoctoral fellow to work on either of these tumor types with an
excellent track record of research and scientific publications. Experience in cell biology, genetics,
genomics, or bioinformatics will be an asset.
Recent selected publications
Hafner C,* Toll A,* Fernández-Casado A, ** et al. Multiple oncogenic mutations and clonal
relationship in spatially distinct benign human epidermal tumors. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2010;
107:20780-20785.
Rodríguez-Santiago B, Malats N*, Rothman N* et al. Mosaic uniparental disomies and aneuploidies
as large structural variants of the human genome. Am J Hum Genet 2010; 87:129-138.
Martinelli P, Cañamero M, del Pozo N, et al. Gata6 is required for complete acinar differentiation
and maintenance of the exocrine pancreas in adult mice. Gut 2013; In press (PMID 23002247).
Amaral AFS, Méndez-Pértuz M, Muñoz A, et al. Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels and bladder
cancer risk according to tumor stage and FGFR3 status: a mechanism-based epidemiological study.
J Natl Cancer Inst 2012; 104:1897-1904.
Flández M, Cendrowski J, Cañamero M, et al. Nr5a2 heterozygosity sensitizes to, and cooperates
with, inflammation in KRasG12V-driven pancreatic tumorigenesis. Gut 2013; In press (PMID
23598351).
For further information please contact Paco Real - 917328000 ext. 3660, preal@cnio.es.