Dame Deborah James’ incredible legacy: The Bowelbabe Fund announces first funded projects

Learn more about the new projects 

Laying the foundations for new precision treatment that could stop cancer spread.

Led by Professor Trevor Graham – Director of the Centre for Evolution and Cancer at The Institute of Cancer Research, London. 

Nearly 7 in 10 cancer deaths are due to it spreading around the body, a process called metastasis. This project aims to discover how bowel cancer spreads, by making detailed measurements of tumours and using advanced mathematics to make sense of the data.  

It could unlock the next generation of treatments and technologies to detect which bowel cancers will spread, and even prevent this process. 

Targeting microbes that might cause bowel cancer

Led by the OPTIMISTICC Cancer Grand Challenge team.   

It’s becoming increasingly clear that bowel cancer – the third most common cancer worldwide – is intricately linked to microbes in the gut.  

The trillions of different microbes in the body are called the microbiome, and it plays a key role in keeping people healthy.  

This team of internationally leading scientists is analysing the microbiome of thousands of people from across the world and transforming our understanding of how the microbiome influences bowel cancer.  

They’ve already discovered a type of bacteria that increases the risk of bowel cancer in some people under 50 and are exploring whether it might be possible to target this bacteria to reduce bowel cancer risk. 

Using artificial intelligence and blood tests to detect the earliest signs of cancer

Led by Dr Oleg Blyuss – Queen Mary University of London.  

Scientists can detect patterns of molecules in blood to diagnose cancer, but our current tests are too slow and inaccurate.   

This project is developing AI tools to sort through the huge amount of data in blood, and predict when someone has developed the earliest signs of bowel, pancreatic or lung cancer.  

By helping doctors detect these cancers earlier, this technology could help people get treated sooner, giving them the best chance of beating their disease.  

New advanced IR X-Ray machine at The Royal Marsden to offer cutting edge treatment.

Interventional radiology (IR) was an important part of Deborah’s treatment at The Royal Marsden. IR uses imaging techniques to treat cancer in a minimally invasive way. 

Often used as an alternative to surgery, imaging methods such as real-time X-rays, ultrasound, CT or MRI scanning, are used to guide treatment directly to the cancer site. The precision achieved dramatically reduces side effects and minimises damage to other organs and tissue located near tumours.  

The Bowelbabe Fund is pleased to be supporting the installation of a new, advanced IR X-Ray machine at The Royal Marsden, allowing them to continue to offer the most innovative treatment for even more cancer patients. It will also help support research at the hospital to help develop advanced targeted therapies for cancer. 

Bowel cancer awareness roadshows and primary care education to make a difference in communities hardest hit by poorer bowel cancer outcomes.

Figures from Bowel Cancer UK show nearly four in ten (38%) people in the UK can’t name a single symptom of bowel cancer. To improve this, Bowel Cancer UK will create and deliver an impactful awareness and education programme.  

Bowel Cancer UK will roll out volunteer-led talks and a comprehensive awareness roadshow travelling the length and breadth of the UK, talking about bowel cancer risk, signs, symptoms, and the importance of screening.  

The roadshows will prioritise talking to older adults who don’t take part in screening, younger people with symptoms, people living in areas of social deprivation, and areas where people are less likely to survive a diagnosis of bowel cancer.   

Alongside the awareness roadshows, funding from the Bowelbabe Fund will help support Bowel Cancer UK in creating e-learning modules, webinars, and face to face learning sessions for GPs and pharmacy staff across the UK to build their knowledge on symptoms and risk factors, allowing them to confidently have conversations with people about bowel cancer.