Paediatric Solid Tumour Biology and Therapeutics Group

Professor Louis Chesler’s group is investigating the genetic causes for the childhood cancers, neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. 

Research, projects and publications in this group

Our group's aim is to improve the treatment and survival of children with neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma.

The goal of our laboratory is to improve the treatment and survival of children with neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma, three paediatric solid tumours in which high-risk patient cohorts can be defined by alterations in a single oncogene. We focus on the role of the MYCN oncogene, since aberrant expression of MYCNis very significantly associated with high-risk in all three diseases and implies that they may have a common cell-of-origin.

Elucidating the molecular signalling pathways that control expression of the MYCN oncoprotein and targeting these pathways with novel therapeutics is a major goal of the laboratory. We use a variety of innovative preclinical drug development platforms for this purpose.

Technologically, we focus on genetically engineered cancer models incorporating novel imaging (optical and fluorescent) modalities that can be used as markers to monitor disease progression and therapeutic response.

Our group has several key objectives:

  • Mechanistically dissect the role of the MYCN oncogene, and other key oncogenic driver genes in poor-outcome paediatric solid tumours (neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma).
  • Develop novel therapeutics targeting MYCN oncoproteins and other key oncogenic drivers
  • Develop improved genetic cancer models dually useful for studies of oncogenesis and preclinical development of novel therapeutics.
  • Use such models to develop and functionally validate optical imaging modalities useful as surrogate markers of tumour progression in paediatric cancer.

Professor Louis Chesler

Clinical Senior Lecturer/Group Leader:

Paediatric Solid Tumour Biology and Therapeutics Professor Louis Chesler (Profile pic)

Professor Louis Chesler is working to understand the biology of children’s cancers and use that information to discover and develop new personalised approaches to cancer treatment. His work focuses on improving the understanding of the role of the MYCN oncogene.

Researchers in this group

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Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Phone: +44 20 3437 6124

Email: [email protected]

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Location: Sutton

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Phone: +44 20 3437 3501

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Location: Sutton

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Location: Sutton

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Phone: +44 20 8722 4361

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Location: Sutton

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Phone: +44 20 3437 6118

Email: [email protected]

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Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Location: Sutton

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OrcID: 0000-0003-3977-7020

Phone: +44 20 3437 6109

Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

I obtained an MSci in Biochemistry from the University of Glasgow in 2018. In October 2018 I joined the labs of Dr Michael Hubank and Professor Andrea Sottoriva to investigate the use of liquid biopsy to monitor clonal frequency and emergence of resistance mutations in paediatric cancers.

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Email: [email protected]

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Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

Professor Louis Chesler's group have written 112 publications

Most recent new publication 11/2024

See all their publications

Vacancies in this group

Working in this group

Head of Biology and Director, Centre for Target Validation (Group Leader)

  • Sutton
  • Cancer Therapeutics
  • Competitive Starting Salary
  • Permanent

Under the leadership of Dr Olivia Rossanese, we are seeking to appoint a Team Leader to join The Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery (CCDD) as The Head of Biology and Director of the Centre for Target Validation. Key Requirements The successful candidate must have in-depth knowledge and recent experience in an area of cancer biology relevant to oncology drug discovery. Leadership experience of drug discovery within, or in collaboration with, the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry as evidenced by publication and/or successful commercial projects. Along with completing the online application form, you will be asked to attach the following documents and failure to do so will mean your application cannot be considered on this occasion: · Full CV · Lists of major publications, achievements, research grants, distinctions. · A PDF of a maximum of five key publications, or other research outputs (e.g. patents) that best demonstrate previous productivity · You must also complete the personal statement section of the application form in the format of a covering letter including the names and contact details of three academic referees Department/Directorate Information: The Division of Cancer Therapeutic's mission is to develop personalised medicines by translating information from the cancer genome and cancer biology into drugs for patient benefit. We implement innovative drug discovery technologies, discover novel mechanism-based drugs, and develop these as rapidly as possible from the laboratory through to hypothesis-testing early clinical trials We encourage all applicants to access the job pack attached for more detailed information regarding this role. For an informal discussion regarding the role, please contact Dr Olivia Rossanese, Email [email protected]

Group Leader in In Vivo Cancer Modelling

  • Sutton
  • Molecular Pathology
  • Fixed term

The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) seeks to appoint a Group Leader in In Vivo Cancer Modelling to play a pivotal role in advancing our cutting-edge cancer research. The position is based at the newly established Centre for In Vivo Modelling (CIVM), part of the Division of Molecular Pathology on our Sutton campus. We welcome applications at both the Career Development Faculty and Career Faculty levels. Key Requirements The successful candidate will employ genetic and humanised mouse models of cancer to tackle fundamental and translational questions in haemato-oncology and/or solid tumour oncology. In addition to leading a successful research group, they will expand the CIVM's research capabilities and foster productive collaborations with other groups and centres at the ICR, thus promoting in vivo modelling by integrating it into multidisciplinary projects and initiatives. Applicants must hold a higher degree and have a proven, internationally recognised track record of leading research in in vivo modelling and advanced mouse genetics, demonstrated by high-quality publications and significant funding success. For more junior candidates, an outstanding postdoctoral track record in cancer research, coupled with a compelling research vision leveraging advanced genetic mouse models and clear potential to secure external funding, is essential. As part of your online application you will be required to upload your full CV which will pre-populate your application form, you will also be asked to attach the following documents and failure to do so will mean your application cannot be considered on this occasion: Lists of major publications, achievements, research grants, distinctions. Research plan (five to six pages outlining your current research interests and research programme for the next 5 years) A PDF of a maximum of five key publications, or other research outputs (e.g. patents) that best demonstrate previous productivity You must also complete the personal statement section of the application form in the format of a covering letter including the names and contact details of three academic referees Department/Directorate Information: The ICR is one of the world’s most influential cancer research institutions, with an outstanding track record of achievement dating back more than 100 years. In addition to being one of the UK’s leading higher education institutions for research quality and impact, the ICR is consistently ranked among the world’s most successful for industry collaboration. As a member institution of the University of London, we also provide postgraduate higher education of international distinction. One of the ICR’s key research strategies is to defeat cancer by viewing it as a dynamic ecosystem. We aim to solidify our expertise in state-of-the-art in vivo cancer models to probe these complex cancer ecosystems, discover their underlying biology, and identify new therapeutic targets. The post holder will significantly contribute to driving these strategic priorities. We encourage all applicants to access the job pack attached for more detailed information regarding this role. If you would like to informally discuss this position, please contact Professor Kamil R. Kranc ([email protected]), Director of the Centre for In Vivo Modelling, or Professor Chris Jones ([email protected]), Interim Head of the Division of Molecular Pathology at the ICR.

Industrial partnership opportunities with this group

Opportunity: A novel test for predicting future cancer risk in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Commissioner: Professor Trevor Graham

Recent discoveries from this group

20/12/24

Sentinal4D's leadership team Georgia Mitsi, Chris Bakal and Matt de Vries

Image: Georgia Mitsi, Chris Bakal and Matt de Vries

Sentinal4D, a spinout company from The Institute of Cancer Research, London, has been announced to the public – having closed its first round of funding and appointed its foundational leadership team.

The highly innovative new company aims to accelerate drug discovery and development to target drugs to patients, powered via patented artificial intelligence-driven methods for personalised therapeutics, with a focus on oncology.

The know-how in Sentinal4D is built on years of data and expertise developed in the lab of Professor Chris Bakal at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR). Professor Bakal is a world-leading expert in the role of cell shape in cancer and will be Sentinal4D’s Chief Scientific Officer.

Sentinal4D aims to eliminate the guesswork and expedite drug discovery by providing insights that will increase the chances of success in the subsequent phases of drug development.

The company’s approach involves high-throughput 3D imaging of cancer models pre- and post-therapeutic intervention, a proprietary AI-based 3D computer vision model, and integration with multimodal data.

Sentinal4D products offer a variety of predictions about response, efficacy and toxicity to potential new drugs in addition to which patient subsets might benefit the most from a certain drug or combination of drugs.

Funders supporting Sentinal4D at its launch include Twin Path Ventures, Arben Ventures and angel investors. Sentinal4D was recognised and supported by the Cancer Tech Accelerator, which was provided by Capital Enterprise and supported and funded by Capital Research UK, Cancer Research Horizons and the UK Research and Innovation Medical Research Council.

The company will be led by Chief Executive Officer and co-founder Georgia Mitsi, an experienced pharmaceutical executive with specific expertise in new technologies and innovation and a proven track record on partnerships. Dr Georgia Mitsi was instrumental in completing the tech transfer and closing the pre-seed round.

The team also includes Matt de Vries (co-founder and Chief Technology Officer), an entrepreneurial scientist with expertise in AI models who was trained in Professor Bakal’s laboratory.

Matt has developed sophisticated ‘Multiple Instance Learning’ models to analyse 3D shapes of cancer cells from both still images and videos. His work has been accepted in top computational conferences such as MICCAI and NeurIPS, and published in Cell Systems. Matt also won the Early Career Entrepreneur of the Year awarded by Cancer Research Horizons.

Sentinal4D is the second spinout company to be announced by the ICR this year, and follows recent spinout successes including the foundation of Monte Rosa Therapeutics, which is now listed on New York’s NASDAQ stock exchange.

Research underpinning Sentinal4D’s foundation was supported by the ICR and funders including Cancer Research UK.

Dr Jon Wilkinson, Director of Business and Innovation at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said:

“We’re excited to announce the formation of ICR spinout company Sentinal4D, which is taking a new and highly innovative approach in using 3D-imaging analysis powered by AI for precision therapeutics in oncology. Sentinal4D is the latest of several new spinout companies to emerge from our work at the ICR, as we continue to encourage scientists to found companies as part of the mix of what they do.”

Professor Chris Bakal, Professor of Dynamical Cell Systems at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and scientific co-founder of Sentinal4D, said:

“Sentinal4D brings together several strands of expertise we’ve been building in the lab for a number of years – including a deepening understanding of the role of cellular shape-shifting in cancer, innovative new methods of drug discovery, and AI-driven analysis of data including image data. We’re delighted to see it launch following a successful round of pre-seed funding.”

Dr Georgia Mitsi, CEO of Sentinal4D, said:

“For many years I have been working with start-ups and innovative technologies. Sentinal4D’s cutting-edge technology enables a new approach to drug discovery and development that could transform the traditional ways of working by adapting a biology-first, holistic strategy.

“Considering the poor success rates and challenges in drug development, we now have the opportunity to finally realise the vision for personalised therapeutics and bring effective treatments to patients faster, better and cheaper. With all the hype around AI, at Sentinal4D we strive to differentiate ourselves by emphasising that high quality, deep level data is the key to predictive modelling. I am looking forward to taking the company to the next level and start working with other innovative companies that share the same vision.”