Laboratory and translational science
Assays, drug testing and diagnostics, led by cancer researchers who took a therapy from the bench to Phase Ib clinical trials.
Our laboratory practice combines four decades of DNA repair and cancer biology research with hands-on experience of commercial projects. We design the experiment, run it with validated methods and report results you can act on.
DNA Damage and Repair
We detect, visualise and quantify DNA damage caused by radiation, chemicals and environmental stressors, and study the repair pathways that respond to it: base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair, homologous recombination and non-homologous end joining.
This work supports drug development and biomarker discovery for cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Damage and repair assays
- DNA damage induction
- Single- and double-strand breaks
- Mismatch and crosslink repair
- DNA damage signalling
DDR deficiency disorders
- Ataxia telangiectasia
- Xeroderma pigmentosum
- Fanconi anaemia
- Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer
- Lynch syndrome
Genomic instability
- Mutation signatures
- Chromosomal abnormalities
- Replication stress
- Microsatellite instability
Example projects
- 1
Quantifying γH2AX and 53BP1 foci by imaging flow cytometry after radiation or drug exposure.
- 2
Profiling DNA repair capacity in engineered or patient-derived cell lines, for example BRCA1-deficient cells, to predict sensitivity to PARP inhibitors.
- 3
Comet and micronucleus assays to assess whether a new compound damages DNA.
Led by: Prof Chris Parris · Dr Hussein Al-Ali
Drug Development and Testing
We help translate research findings from bench to bedside. Our in vitro work provides a robust foundation for therapeutic development, from cell-based assays and screening to efficacy testing, and we provide expert in vivo guidance as candidates progress.
Our directors advanced an antibody therapeutic from in vitro testing to Phase Ib clinical trials, and we bring that experience to every project.
Research
- Cell-based assays and drug screening
- Efficacy and dose-response testing
- Mechanism-of-action studies
- Target identification
Data and imaging
- Microscopy and image analysis
- Flow and imaging flow cytometry
- Statistical analysis
- Reports with clear recommendations
Across the pipeline
- Research and development
- Pharmacovigilance
- Clinical research
- Regulatory compliance
Example projects
- 1
Dose-response and IC50 screening of candidate compounds across a panel of cancer cell lines.
- 2
Testing a therapeutic antibody's effect on cancer cell growth, migration and invasion in vitro.
- 3
Combination studies to find synergy between a new agent and standard chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Led by: Prof Chris Parris · Dr Hussein Al-Ali
Disease Diagnosis and Detection
We apply technologies such as imaging flow cytometry to identify disease markers accurately and early, supporting personalised treatment.
Every method is tested for consistency and reliability, drawing on more than twenty years of experience in the field.
Biomarkers
- Circulating tumour cell detection
- Cell-specific biomarkers including ctDNA
- DNA damage biomarkers
- Predicting drug and radiotherapy response
Validation
- Blinded, randomised designs
- Sensitivity and specificity
- Reproducibility and cross-validation
- Method optimisation
Towards patients
- Standardised testing and screening
- Point-of-care approaches
- Personalised treatment
Example projects
- 1
Developing and validating a circulating tumour cell detection assay from blood samples.
- 2
Measuring a biomarker's sensitivity and specificity in a blinded, randomised sample set.
- 3
Building assays that predict a patient's response to a drug or to radiotherapy.
Led by: Dr Hussein Al-Ali · Prof Chris Parris
Tell us about your project
Your first consultation is free. We will propose an approach, a timeline and costs tailored to your goals.