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The Brain Tumour Charity Chair of Translational Neuro-Oncology

Fast facts

  • Lead researcher: Professor Petra Hamerlik
  • Where: University of Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC)
  • When: September 2022 – August 2028 
  • Cost: £1.35m over 6 years
  • Research type: Glioblastoma (High grade), Tumour Biology, DNA repair, Radiotherapy, Biomarkers

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common aggressive brain tumour in adults. The prognosis for patients with a GBM is poor due to several factors including tumour recurrence, lack of effective treatments, poor responses to existing treatment, and suppression of the immune system. This is an area of focus for the Inaugural Brain Tumour Charity Chair of Translational Neuro-Oncology.

What is it?

As part of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre‘s ambition to bring together world-leading scientists to tackle cancer, Professor Petra Hamerlik will lead a team of experts focusing on two main areas of neuro-oncology research:

  1. 1. Understanding and preventing therapeutic resistance in glioblastoma
  2. When treated with radiotherapy, the cells in a GBM tumour can repair themselves quickly, leading to tumour recurrence.
  3. Researchers in Professor Hamerlik’s team have observed that the tumour cells can change how they respond to the damage caused by radiation and chemotherapy. By understanding how these tumour cells repair themselves, the researchers hope to find specific targets (biomarkers) that can be targeted with drugs to interrupt this repair process, ultimately preventing the tumour from recurring. This could potentially lead to the development of new treatments that prevent the recurrence of GBM.

2. Early detection of brain tumours using liquid biomarkers

Rapid diagnostic tests are in development by scientists to detect cancer earlier by looking for DNA and proteins released by tumours into the bloodstream. However, for brain tumours, these kinds of tests haven’t worked well due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier, which stops tumour fragments from reaching the bloodstream.

Professor Hamerlik and her team aim to use a different tactic to develop early detection tests, by using specific biomarkers related to inflammation. Early findings from preclinical models showed a connection between the growth of brain cancer and the presence of inflammatory biomarkers in liquid biopsies. By carrying out a prospective NHS-approved biomarker study, researchers hope to validate biomarkers that they believe can tell us with what probability someone has a brain tumour. Ultimately, they aim to develop a non-invasive test to detect brain tumours.

Why is it important?

Currently, the prognosis for glioblastoma is poor, and the effectiveness of treatment varies. By improving our understanding of how these tumours recur even after aggressive treatment, and developing new diagnostic tests for brain tumours, this work could lead to new treatments and faster diagnosis. Improved treatments could mean better chances of survival for those diagnosed with a GBM, improved quality of life, and the possibility of preventing the tumour from returning, offering hope for those affected by this aggressive form of cancer.

Our research aims to enhance the quality of life for patients who currently suffer due to the challenges in diagnosing brain tumours.

–Professor Petra Hamerlik 

Research is just one other way your regular gift can make a difference

Research is the only way we will discover kinder, more effective treatments and, ultimately, stamp out brain tumours – for good! However, brain tumours are complex and research in to them takes a great deal of time and money.

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But, by setting up a regular gift – as little as £2 per month – you can ensure that families no longer face this destructive disease.

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In this section

Professor Petra Hamerlik

Professor Petra Hamerlik is an accomplished researcher in primary pharmacology and brain cancer research. Her professional career has been a blend of academic and industry roles, including positions at the Danish Cancer Society, Cleveland Clinic, and AstraZeneca. In September 2022, Petra was recruited to the University of Manchester as the Inaugural Brain Tumour Charity Chair of Translational Neuro-Oncology. Her current work is focused on identifying novel treatments and early detection of intracranial tumours.