Clinical trials
UK Blood Cancer Research Network Lymphoma Group
In November, we attended the annual meeting of the UK Blood Cancer Research Network Lymphoma Group. The day showcased the volume and diversity of ongoing studies and highlighted the significant impact of UK-based research.
What is the UK Blood Cancer Research Network Lymphoma Group?
The UK Blood Cancer Research Network is a multidisciplinary, supportive leadership group. The network provides strategic oversight of the blood cancer clinical research study portfolio in the UK, setting and driving the research agenda. The Lymphoma Group within this network is chaired by Professor Andy Davies from the University of Southampton, with members from across the UK.
What are the objectives of the Lymphoma Group?
The overarching aim of the group is to:
“Deliver better outcomes for all those affected by lymphoma throughout the UK and beyond.
To achieve this, the group has a number of strategic objectives:
- Identify gaps in all aspects of lymphoma research.
- Address these gaps through co-ordinated high-quality research development and delivery.
- Prioritise research to maximise patient benefit.
- Bring together the brightest scientific and medical minds to advance UK lymphoma research.
- Look out for unnecessary, expensive, duplication of effort and guard against it.
- Encourage cross-funder and cross-sector collaboration.
- Support early career research, forming a diverse research community.
- Ensure patient and public involvement in all aspects of research.
- Promote international collaboration to deliver practice changing studies in rare lymphomas.
How is the group structured?
The group is made up of several study groups, working in collaboration.
- Low-grade lymphoma – chaired by Dr Toby Eyre, Oxford University Hospitals
- High-grade lymphoma – chaired by Dr Sridhar Chaganti, University Hospital Birmingham, with three sub-groups:
- Central nervous system lymphoma – chaired by Dr Jeff Smith, Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Liverpool
- T-cell lymphoma – chaired by Professor Kate Cwynarski, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust
- Elderly lymphoma – chaired by Professor Nagesh Kalakonda, Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Liverpool
- Hodgkin lymphoma – chaired by Dr Cathy Burton, Leeds Teaching Hospitals
- Science group – chaired by Dr Daniel Hodson, University of Cambridge
- Health data – chaired by Dr David Cutter, University of Oxford and
- Dr Mark Bishton, Nottingham University Hospitals
- Radiotherapy – chaired by Professor George Mikhaeel, Guy’s and St Thomas NHS Trust.
What are the study groups doing?
During the meeting, each study group gave an update, focussing on areas such as:
- results and analysis of completed studies
- how results have been communicated via publications and presentations
- new treatments available
- updates to practice guidelines
- progress of ongoing trials, including recruitment
- design of future studies
- remaining questions and challenges to be addressed.
The meeting highlighted the impressive number of high-quality studies currently underway in the UK and in the pipeline, and the passion and commitment of the healthcare professionals involved. Each piece of research has a clear central goal of improving the outcomes of people affected by lymphoma. Patient and public involvement is crucial to ensure that the trials are designed to answer questions that are important to the lymphoma community. The study groups are also working hard to expand access to trials to improve inclusivity and diversity of participants.
Lymphoma Action will continue to stay up-to-date with the latest research and developments of the study groups to ensure our materials reflect current practice.
Find out more about clinical trials at lymphoma-action.org.uk/TrialsLink
With thanks to Professor Andy Davies, Professor of Haematological Oncology, University of Southampton and University Hospitals Southampton, and Chair of the UK Blood Cancer Research Network Lymphoma Group, for reviewing this information.
