Projects we fund

Overview

Inside our cells is a genetic code that determines what they become and how they behave. It also determines whether a cell will be healthy or whether it will become cancerous. Errors in this genetic code are called mutations. Most mutations are harmless, but not if they happen in a cancer-predisposing gene (CPG). Some cases of cancer in children and young people are associated with inherited mutations in these CPGs, but very little is known about them. This limits our ability to care for children and young people with cancer or prevent them from developing cancer in the first place. Although some CPGs have already been identified, there are still more to be found. These are what Professor Richard Houlston’s team are seeking to identify.

Potential impact

By identifying previously unknown CPGs, the team hopes to determine new ways to monitor children and young people with inherited CPG mutations, ensuring that we can diagnose cancer sooner. The insights they gather could also have important implications for how we treat cancer, allowing doctors to better tailor each child’s cancer care, ensuring that they get the right treatment for their cancer and the best possible life afterwards.