The centre focuses on the links between cancer and inflammation. The overarching hypothesis that drives research in our Centre is that immune cells and mediators found in experimental and human cancers are more likely to promote cancer growth than be part of a host anti-tumour response. We believe that inhibition or re-alignment of this inflammatory process may be of therapeutic benefit.

Our aim is to translate our laboratory research in chronic inflammation, cancer growth and spread into new treatments for cancer, especially ovarian cancer, and we are involved in several Phase I and Phase II clinical trials. We have excellent collaborations with the Departments of Gynaecological Oncology and Medical Oncology at Barts and The London NHS Hospitals.

We also have a strong commitment to public engagement with our work - visit www.centreofthecell.org

Research Groups

Cancer and Inflammation Group
Professor Frances Balkwill
Aims to understand links between cancer and inflammation and translate this into novel clinical trials

Tumour Microenvironment
Dr Thorsten Hagemann
Aims to understand the fundamental mechanisms by which TNF-signalling promotes cancer; with particular reference to the role of macrophages and their phenotype in