In this episode of Science Savvy, I sit down with Elena Muyo, Scientific Projects & Partnerships Lead at CRIS Cancer UK, to uncover how this unique charity is rewriting the future of cancer research. From dual CAR-T trials in children with leukemia, to a first-in-class lung cancer vaccine, to pioneering treatments for devastating childhood brain tumors, CRIS Cancer is driving science that gives patients options when medicine says “there’s nothing more we can do.”
We talk about the incredible story...
In this episode of Science Savvy, I sit down with Elena Muyo, Scientific Projects & Partnerships Lead at CRIS Cancer UK, to uncover how this unique charity is rewriting the future of cancer research. From dual CAR-T trials in children with leukemia, to a first-in-class lung cancer vaccine, to pioneering treatments for devastating childhood brain tumors, CRIS Cancer is driving science that gives patients options when medicine says “there’s nothing more we can do.”
We talk about the incredible story that started it all, how CRIS selects and funds projects that others overlook, and why every pound donated has a multiplying effect on hope and discovery. If you’ve ever wondered how patient-driven science can change the course of cancer treatment, this is the episode for you.
About Science Savvy: My name is Carmen Fairley, I have a background in pharmacology and biomedical engineering, and currently work in medical advisory. Science Savvy is the podcast that makes cutting-edge research accessible, turning complex science into stories that mean something for you.
Citations / Bibliography:
National Cancer Institute. What Is CAR T-Cell Therapy? cancer.gov
Maude SL, Frey N, Shaw PA, et al. Chimeric antigen receptor T cells for sustained remissions in leukemia. New England Journal of Medicine. (also available via PMC)
Fesnak AD, June CH, Levine BL. Engineering T cells: the intersection of synthetic biology and adoptive cell therapy. Nature Reviews Cancer.
June CH, Sadelain M. Chimeric antigen receptor therapy. New England Journal of Medicine.
Newick K, Moon E, Albelda SM. CAR T cell therapy for solid tumors. Annual Review of Medicine.
Frontiers in Immunology / Frontiers in Oncology. Articles on CAR-T in solid tumors and tumor microenvironment challenges.
Cancer Research UK / CRIS Cancer Foundation. LungVax project announcement. news.cancerresearchuk.org
Elliott T (et al.). Details of neoantigen-based lung cancer vaccine design (as reported by CRUK)
BioNTech / mRNA vaccine clinical trial reports (e.g., BNT116 in lung cancer).
PMC articles / reviews on checkpoint inhibitors in lung cancer (e.g. anti‑PD‑1 / anti‑PD‑L1 therapies).
Frontiers in Immunology / Frontiers in Oncology – studies combining immunotherapy in thoracic cancers, mechanisms of resistance, tumor microenvironment.
National Cancer Institute / NIH press / Cancer Currents. CAR T trial in DMG.
Studies on ONC201 in H3K27M mutant gliomas (e.g. University of Michigan / clinical trial reports).
Reviews of prognosis and therapeutic challenges in diffuse midline glioma (e.g., clinical trial databases, Pediatric Neuro‑Oncology journals).
American Cancer Society / Cancer.org. Overview of Clinical Trial Phases.
Cancer Research UK. Explanation of how clinical trials work, purposes of phases I, II, III.
Lupus Research / NIH / NCI / adaptive trial methodology sources. Phase I/II and Phase II/III design explanations.
