Rogue’ DNA rings reveal earliest clues to deadly brain cancer’s growth
8th September 2025
An international team of scientists has revealed how rogue rings of DNA that float outside of our chromosomes – known as extrachromosomal DNA, or ecDNA – can drive the growth of a large proportion of glioblastomas, the most common and aggressive adult brain cancer. The discovery could open the door to much-needed new approaches to diagnose glioblastoma early, track its progress and treat it more effectively.
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Breakthrough life-extending treatment for advanced bladder cancer available on NHS
21st August 2025
The new combination treatment offers hope to thousands of people living with advanced urothelial cancer. The clinical trials, led by Professor Tom Powles at Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, showed that overall survival rates were almost twice as long with this new treatment compared to the current standard treatment.
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Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund Tissue Bank achieves landmark international accreditation
19th August 2025
The Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund Tissue Bank (PCRFTB) has become the first in England to receive ISO 20387:2018 accreditation, an international standard that recognises excellence in biobanking.
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£10m awarded to partnership investigating innovative radiolabelled nanomedicines
11th August 2025
Researchers at Barts Cancer Institute (BCI), Queen Mary University of London, will play a part in a revolutionary new partnership with King’s College London and the University of Leeds, aiming to accelerate and optimise the clinical translation of healthcare nanotechnologies.
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Aspiring scientists gain a ‘burst’ of inspiration at the BCI
29th July 2025
This month, we welcomed a total of 43 aspiring young scientists from across London to the Barts Cancer Institute (BCI), Queen Mary University of London, where they had the opportunity to meet researchers, try their hands in the lab and learn more about what it takes to become a scientist.
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Could a breath test detect blood cancer?
23rd July 2025
Molecules exhaled in the breath may provide clues to detect blood cancer, according to new research by scientists at Barts Cancer Institute. The findings could enable the development of a blood cancer breathalyser, providing a rapid, low-cost way to detect disease.
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