Haematological Cancer
Including cancers that affect the blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes
Haematological cancers are those that affect the blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes. Haematological cancers are referred to as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma depending on the type of cell affected. Combined, more than 40,000 people are diagnosed with a haematological cancer in the UK every year.
Haematology Research in Manchester
Haematological cancer research has been a major area of clinical and research activity in Manchester for several decades. In addition to excellent laboratory-based research to enhance the understanding of disease mechanisms in blood cancer and to identify novel therapeutic targets, Manchester is internationally leading on the clinical development of new treatments and runs a large portfolio of phase I-III clinical trials across our various sites.
The goal of all our blood cancer research is to improve patient outcomes.
Led by a team of 14 investigators and more than 60 healthcare professionals from across Manchester, the team supports several initiatives that cover basic and clinical research:
- The Christie in Manchester is one of 13 Leukaemia Care Trials Accelerator Programmes Centres in the UK and a Myeloma UK phase I centre
- The Cancer Research UK Manchester Centre pump primes haematological research across several cross-cutting research themes
- The NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre supports research across three themes: Cancer Precision Medicine, Advanced Radiotherapy, and Cancer Prevention and Early Detection
- The Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) supports the delivery of early phase clinical trials in a dedicated unit with close links to translational laboratories
Active Research Projects
Blood cancer research in Manchester is separated into three themes that cross-cut other fields including early detection, biomarker sciences and precision medicine.
Myeloid Malignancies
Our core strengths in myeloid malignancies are in laboratory-based studies of the biology of myeloid leukaemias, including leukaemia proteomics, the biology of leukaemia-associated transcription factors as well as clinical trials in a range of myeloid blood cancers, such as acute myeloid leukaemia.
Lymphoid Malignancies
Our core strengths in lymphoid malignancies are the evaluation of novel molecules at phases I and II, the development and delivery of practice-changing phase III trials, risk and response adapted therapy in Hodgkin lymphoma, and defining the optimal use of radiotherapy and immunotherapy in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemias. Late effects research is focused on the early detection of second cancers and promoting cardiovascular, bone, musculoskeletal and endocrine health.
Bone Marrow Transplantation
Our core strengths in bone marrow transplantation research are in developing new conditioning strategies to dramatically improve the outcome of children with malignant and non-malignant disorders; understanding the biology and treatment of graft-versus-host disease; and disease relapse mechanisms after allogenic transplantation.
A Vision for the Future of Haematology Malignancies
Harnessing the power of Team Science and collaboration, the Haem-Onc research team aims to expand our existing platform of success to deliver a world-leading centre that will increase knowledge and understanding of the biology of haematological malignancies, and translate this into transformation of the clinical care of patients through a personalised medicine approach.
Where is our Research Performed?
Researchers into blood cancer can be found at the following locations across Manchester
- Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust – Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust – Saint Mary’s Hospital
- Oglesby Cancer Research Building
- The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
- The University of Manchester
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