Forum Attracts Experts Focused on Immunotherapy

More than 300 researchers and entrepreneurs gathered for Innovation Forum Oxford’s Immunotherapy event, held on April 11^th at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford. Given the emergence of immunotherapy as a major force in oncology treatment, it was designed to unite the different sectors of academia, clinical medicine and industry to foster collaborations.

Opening the meeting, Vincenzo Cerundolo, Professor in Immunology at Oxford University and Consultant Physician, gave an excellent overview of immunotherapy from its earliest origins to the field as it is now. Dr Robert Wilkinson, Director of Oncology Research at MedImmune Ltd, followed with a description of Medimmune’s work and some of the exciting molecules which have emerged from his group. 

Following this, Paresh Vyas, Professor of Haematology at the University of Oxford described the development of a novel immunotherapy targeted against the CD47 antigen; this has had remarkable efficacy in pre-clinical models and is now in an early clinical trial in Oxford.  The audience then heard more specifically about ImmTACs as an exciting targeted monoclonal cancer therapy from Dr Bent Jakobsen, CSO of Immunocore Ltd. Dr Martin Pule, a Consultant Haematologist, researcher at UCL and founder of Autolus Ltd, then described some of his work with chimeric antigen T cells targeting solid tumours, particularly a rare type of lymphoma called peripheral T cell lymphoma.

Professor Sarah Gilbert, a cofounder of new venture Vaccitech also described how this company’s research had arisen from studies carried out in Oxford and its focus on targeting prostate cancer via a new vaccine.

Finally there was a panel discussion chaired by Professor Vyas. Dr Lucinda Crabtree (Senior Investment Analyst, Woodford Investment Management LLP), Dr Eliot Forster (CEO, Immunocore Ltd) and Prof Mark Middleton (Lead Cancer Clinician at Oxford University Hospitals and Deputy Director of Cancer Research UK Oxford) made up the panel. Questions from the audience stimulated discussions around the future of innovation in immunotherapy, particularly focusing on the political and economic barriers faced and how these will be overcome.

The Innovation Forum, with over 10,000 members worldwide, organises over 30 events each year in 16 global branches from Tokyo to New York with a flagship annual Innovation Forum held annually in Cambridge, UK. For more information, please visit: www.inno-forum.org