Cancer Immunotherapy Accelerator

The CITA Network is funded by a Cancer Research UK Centres Network Accelerator Award and will serve as a hub, integrating key expertise across:

• University College London (UCL) and UCL Hospitals (UCLH)
• King’s College London (KCL)
• The Francis Crick Institute (FCI)
• Barts Cancer Institute
• The Royal Marsden Hospital (RMH)
• The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR).

This Network will provide a primary UK focus for understanding, implementing, and aiding cancer immunotherapy incorporating a state-of-the-art immune-monitoring and discovery core (IMDC) and Immuno-Oncology clinical trial training.

The aims of the network

1. Deliver a capability package for all Centres to undertake immune monitoring of their patients
2. Drive immune discovery by investigating the mechanisms underpinning response, resistance and toxicity to immunotherapeutic approaches
3. Develop an iGEMM Core for the provision of mouse models of cancer that recapitulate the ITH and mutational diversity of cancer
4. Accelerate production of non-GMP recombinant biotherapeutic proteins and antibodies
5. Develop Immuno-Oncology Clinical Trial Training to train a new cadre of scientists and clinicians able to develop, improve, interpret and deliver relevant immunotherapy trials.