Virtual Lab Tour at The Centre for Cancer Immunology

Описание: In this virtual lab tour, ABC funded lecturer Dr Charles Birts and his team at the University of Southampton will take you through the process of theoretically developing a novel antibody based therapy.

Use the following timestamps to skip to specific parts of the process:

00:05 - Introducing the Centre for Cancer Immunology
00:37 - Discussing Immunotherapy and secondary breast cancer
02:10 - Explaining the steps that must be completed prior to a study commencing
02:43 - Handling and looking at patient samples in the microscope room
04:03 - Looking at breast cancer samples using a fluorescent microscope
05:00 - Engineering antibodies by modifying and amplifying DNA using PCR
06:09 - Growing breast cancer cells in the tissue culture room
07:10 - Looking at breast cancer cells down the microscope
07:27 - Purifying antibodies using the HPLC machine
08:42 - Testing the antibody using the Biacore
09:37 - The use of a Phagocytosis assay to test the antibody
10:11 - Watching a Macrophage destroying breast cancer cells tagged with the antibody
11:00 - Carrying out a Phagocytosis assay using a Flow cytometer
12:21 - Publishing and sharing work for peer review
12:42 - The clinical trials process and submitting results to the MHRA
16:21 - From the ABC team, thank you for your support

About our work at The Centre for Cancer Immunology

2018 saw us complete our move into the new Centre for Cancer Immunology at University of Southampton. The building is the first of its kind in the UK and has been designed to bring together scientists, cancer doctors and clinical trials specialists to allow better collaboration and to deliver newly discovered science into patients for the first time.

The relocation marks an exciting stage for our research programmes. Professor Crispin’s team are working on ways to redirect the body’s natural immune system to clear breast cancer cells that have spread from the site of origin.

Their approach is to manufacture antibodies that have been artificially engineered to recognise cancerous cells in preference to surrounding healthy cells. Southampton has a long-pedigree in developing such therapeutic antibodies and the team will be working very closely with Professor Steven Beers who’s laboratory has all the expertise to determine the effectiveness of the new drug candidates in pre-clinical models.

Recognising that major research advances requires a long-term vision we look forward to making further announcements relating to the development of this team under the leadership of Prof. Crispin and Prof. Beers at this state of the art facility.

To learn more about the research we fund go to https://www.againstbreastcancer.org.uk/

To find out more about the Centre for Cancer Immunology go to https://www.southampton.ac.uk/youreit/