Brunel University London
Childhood Leukaemia Research
An aggressive form of cancer hits children as young as 2 years old, and it is known for its poor recovery rates. By modelling the disease in our lab, we are moving closer to a cure!
Story
Who are we?
Our laboratory, based at Brunel University London led by Dr Sabrina Tosi, specialises in the study of a particular subtype of childhood leukaemia called t(7;12). This aggressive form of cancer hits children as young as 2 years old, and it is known for its poor recovery rates. Every year in the UK about 100 children are diagnosed and there’s no single ‘go to’ treatment – doctors try different combinations of chemotherapy and bone marrow (stem cell) transplantation. Nearly no young children survive longer than three years. We now understand that leukaemia is very different from patient to patient at the genetic level. Without a "one-fits-all" drug, treatments are not always successful, with some patients having little or no options for a cure.
Why are we fundraising?
The funding raised so far has contributed to support the PhD project of one of our graduates, Denise Ragusa, who is now a post-doctoral scientist. Denise had the ambitious project to create a research model for rare infant leukaemia subtype t(7;12), using the latest gene editing technology, funded by Kidscan and Brunel University London. Because the disease mainly affects babies, it is difficult to collect enough cancerous cells from the patients to study, so researchers know little about how the disease works. Recreating this leukaemia "in a test tube" means that we now have unlimited opportunities to solve unanswered questions and find new ways to combat the disease. Read more about this leukaemia treatment breakthrough for babies and how we are moving closer to a cure.
This is the first step towards finding a cure for this rare but deadly form of childhood leukaemia. By generating an in vitro model for this type of leukaemia, we are providing a tool for further investigation. It has enabled us to identify potentially druggable targets leading to possible new treatment. - Dr Sabrina Tosi
The Tosi lab has now joined forces with the lab of Dr Cristina Pina to carry out drug testing on t(7;12) leukaemia, a project supported by the Little Princess Trust.
However, we need your help to maximise the outcomes of our project, as we are looking to upgrade our lab and fund an additional graduate student place in leukaemia research.
Where will the money go?
The money will support the costs of laboratory equipment and reagents, and partially contribute towards a research stipend for one PhD student. The professional formation of an excellent young scientist will also ensure that this research will continue even after the completion of the PhD project.
Help us succeed!
By donating to research, whether big or small, we all contribute to new discoveries and advances, as well as to the formation of new scientists. With this goal in mind, we are confident in the success of our project and the impact it will have on young patients and their families, who will experience first-hand the results of our work behind the scenes. With your help, we are providing the sickest young children with leukaemia treatment breakthroughs and moving closer to a cure!