Monday 12 May 2008
The Institute of Cancer Research is delighted to announce the appointment of eminent molecular pathologist Dr George Thomas as head of the newly-created Translational Molecular Oncology Team. In his new position Dr Thomas will play a major role in The Institute’s targeted drug discovery programme, with a particular focus on prostate and kidney cancers.
Dr Thomas has over 15 years’ experience in the field and joins The Institute from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he was Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.
In his new position Dr Thomas will lead two research groups. One group will be within the Centre for Cell and Molecular Biology and will focus on prostate and kidney cancers. The second group, which will be within the Section of Medicine, will focus on drug development. They will use state-of-the-art molecular analysis techniques to investigate the ways treatments can be targeted to the patients who are most likely to benefit from them.
Professor Stan Kaye, head of the Section of Medicine at The Institute of Cancer Research said: “We are delighted to welcome George to The Institute. He is extremely experienced and well-respected in the field of pathology. His expertise will not only allow us to intensify our work in this area but will also strengthen the links between our laboratory based research at The Institute and clinical work at The Royal Marsden Hospital within the Drug Development Unit.
Dr Thomas said: “These are exciting times for translational cancer research, with tremendous opportunities to make tangible differences in our patients’ lives. I plan to capitalise on these opportunities by harnessing the unique, unparalleled strengths of The Institute of Cancer Research, particularly its science, drug development and clinical trials, to discover and develop biomarkers that predict drug activity and response. These will be our building blocks for individualising targeted cancer treatments.”
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For further information or to arrange interviews please contact:
Elisa Parish
The Institute of Cancer Research
Tel: 020 7153 5380 / 07721 747 900
Email: [email protected]
About The Institute of Cancer Research
- The Cancer Research UK Centre for Cancer Therapeutics is a unique drug discovery and development group. The department works to identify targets for therapy and utilise new technologies in order to discover drugs and develop them as quickly as possible for use in early clinical trials.
- The Institute of Cancer Research is Europe’s leading cancer research centre with expert scientists working on cutting edge research. It was founded in 1909 to carry out research into the causes of cancer and to develop new strategies for its prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care. Website at: www.icr.ac.uk.
- The Institute works in a unique partnership with The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, forming the largest Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Europe. This relationship enables close daily contact between research scientists and those on the frontline in the fight against cancer - the clinicians, the carers and most importantly, the patients.