Cardiff University immunologists Professor Andrew Godkin and Professor Awen Gallimore have secured a prestigious five-year Discovery Programme Award from Cancer Research UK (CRUK). Their project, “Optimisation of anti-cancer CD4+ T cell responses through molecularly-informed modification of HLA class II antigens”, will advance research into the development of next-generation cancer vaccines.
Professor Godkin and Professor Gallimore, who run a joint laboratory, are internationally recognised for their research into T-cell biology. Together with rising star Dr Bruce MacLachlan, a structural biologists and immunologist, their work focuses on CD4+ helper T cells, a subset of immune cells that play a crucial role in supporting other branches of the immune system, including CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, to eliminate cancers. Professor Gallimore also serves as Theme Lead for Immuno-Oncology within the Wales Cancer Research Centre (WCRC), helping to shape national cancer research strategy and foster collaboration across Wales.
The newly funded programme will investigate whether candidate colorectal cancer (CRC) antigens can be engineered to become inherently more immunogenic. These modified antigens will then be incorporated into vaccines and assessed using advanced preclinical systems, including organoids developed through collaboration with the Beatson Institute.
By designing antigens that are broadly effective, the team aims to create vaccines that could be made available to all patients. This approach contrasts with highly personalised immunotherapies, which, although promising, remain expensive and less accessible.
The CRUK Discovery Programme Award represents one of the charity’s most competitive and high value funding awards, supporting internationally leading researchers to pursue ambitious, long-term projects that can transform understanding of cancer and open up new therapeutic avenues. These grants provide up to five years of sustained funding, allowing teams to undertake bold, high-risk, high-reward science with significant potential to change clinical practice.
Speaking about the award, Professor Godkin said:
“We are delighted to receive this support from CRUK. This programme will allow us to explore how CD4+ T cells can be optimised to improve cancer immunotherapy. Our ultimate aim is to develop vaccines that are accessible and equitable, bringing the benefits of immunotherapy to a much wider patient community.”
The research brings together a strong network of collaborators, Dr Owen Sansom at the Beatson Institute, Professor Tony Purcell at Monash University, and Dr Bruce MacLachlan, at Cardiff University.
This major CRUK award underlines Cardiff University’s reputation as a leader in cancer immunology research and provides significant opportunities to advance the development of effective, affordable, and widely available cancer treatments.