Haematological cancers In 'Birmingham Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre' Birmingham Experimental Cancer Medicine CentreAbout UsPrecision MedicineImmunotherapyBiomarkers and Liquid BiopsyLived Experience of CancerResearch NewsContact us Current focus areas BOOST (Biological Correlates of Stem Cell Transplantation) study (CI Professor Paul Moss and Co-I Dr Francesca Kinsella - this Birmingham-led study has advanced our understanding of early allogeneic immune response following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT), and its relevance for predicting outcome. We described the IL-7 dependent homeostatic expansion of T cells by homeostatic proliferation (DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102164) and recognition of allo-antigens (DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.97219). We are now aiming to identify therapeutic targets to prevent GvHD for subsequent clinical translation. As a CAR T centre, Birmingham leads the CRUK sponsored Phase I/IIa trial of ALETA-001, with partner Aleta Biotherapeutics, for patients with relapsed diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or B cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (B-ALL) (CI Dr Sridhar Chaganti). Dr Francesca Kinsella has established a collaboration across Birmingham Health Partners to study the clinical spectrum and pathophysiology of immune cell effector associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), a neurological complication of CAR T cellular therapy affecting up to 70% of patients. The team aims to identify patients at highest risk, develop objective near-patient methods to monitor patients, predict severe neurotoxicity, and identify selective therapeutic targets for development.