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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/S009000/1
Title: EPSRC IRC in Targeted Delivery for Hard-to-Treat Cancers
Principal Investigator: Malliaras, Professor G
Other Investigators:
Fairen-Jimenez, Professor D Watts, Professor C Jodrell, Professor D
Basit, Professor A Fruk, Dr L Gilbertson, Professor R
Huang, Professor YYS Marciniak, Professor SJ Scherman, Professor O
Metcalfe, Dr S Gaisford, Professor S Daly, Professor R
Green, Professor R Richards, Dr FM Forgan, Professor RS
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
ARM Ltd AstraZeneca Medicines Discovery Catapault
National Physical Laboratory NPL UK-CPI (dup'e)
Department: Engineering
Organisation: University of Cambridge
Scheme: Standard Research
Starts: 01 October 2018 Ends: 30 September 2024 Value (£): 10,275,035
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Biomaterials Med.Instrument.Device& Equip.
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Healthcare Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
10 Jul 2018 IRC TTD 2018 Interview Panel Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
While the survival rate for most cancers has doubled over the last 40 years, hard-to-treat cancers show survival rates below 14%. To combat these cancers, multiple pathways (immune/inflammatory, neoangiogenic, cell replication) need to be targeted and this necessitates a multimodal delivery approach that will increase not only the amount but also the range of therapeutic agents that reach the target site. This IRC will address this challenge by developing (i) delivery vehicles that are based on metal organic frameworks and organic cages and show substantially increased payload capacity, and (ii) implantable/injectable delivery platforms that are based on gels and electrophoretic pumps and enhance drug penetration through e.g. the blood-brain barrier. By combining these two approaches, we will achieve a step change in the amount and range of drugs that reach the tumour site. Two crosscutting translational activities, on material delivery & additive manufacturing and on validation, will consider the whole chain from the conception of the delivery system to its clinical application, leading to a holistic approach to the problem of targeted drug delivery. The proposed research program builds on an institutional-level initiative on therapeutic science and strong links with CRUK and with national labs and industry leaders in drug development. The interdisciplinary team involved in this IRC includes groups from five universities with expertise ranging from materials synthesis and characterisation, through device engineering and manufacturing, to pharmacology and cancer, and will deliver scientific breakthroughs that extend beyond the field of targeted drug delivery. Economic and societal impacts will be delivered and measured through a joined-up approach to market analysis, industry feedback and embedded anticipation of risks to translation. Engagement of end-users and stakeholders, which will begin as early as the preparation of the second-round proposal, will play a critical role in steering the IRC throughout its lifetime.
Key Findings
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Potential use in non-academic contexts
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Impacts
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Summary
Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.cam.ac.uk