The National Pathology Imaging Co-operative (NPIC) based at LTHT, is part of this national programme and will play a key role by using its advanced national digital pathology imaging platform to help create, store and analyse the data.
The new programme, called MANIFEST (Multiomic Analysis of Immunotherapy Features Evidencing Success and Toxicity), will study why immunotherapy works for some people but not others. Researchers will focus on identifying biomarkers – signs that can help doctors predict whether a patient will respond well to immunotherapy. These findings could also help develop new treatments, like vaccines or cell therapies.
The study will initially involve 6,000 cancer patients across the UK, including those with breast, bladder, kidney, and skin cancers. Over the next four years, researchers will collect samples such as blood, tissue, and stool to analyse different aspects of cancerous tumours and the immune system. This will help scientists understand how patients’ immune systems and the cancer interact, and to develop better, more personalised treatments.
Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer. It has been very effective for some cancers, like melanoma (a skin cancer), and can even cure advanced cases for some patients. However, many patients do not benefit from this treatment, and some experience severe side effects. Even in cases where immunotherapy works best, such as melanoma, only about 50% of patients respond positively.
MANIFEST is funded by £9m from the Medical Research Council and the Office for Life Sciences, with an additional £12.9m in matched funds from industry.
Dr Daljeet Bansal, Operations Director, National Pathology Imaging Co-operative, NPIC said: “Being part of the MANIFEST programme will provide an opportunity for NPIC to advance our work in digital pathology and cancer research. This collaboration brings together leading institutions across the UK, and we are proud to contribute to an effort that has the potential to significantly impact patient outcomes.”
Dr Matt Humphries, Research Operations Manager, National Pathology Imaging Co-operative, NPIC said: “NPIC is excited to be part of the MANIFEST programme. This investment will allow us to apply our expertise, and cutting-edge digital pathology infrastructure to drive advances in cancer immunotherapy research. By working with our partners across the UK, we are committed to using innovative technology to better understand how patients respond to treatment and ultimately improve cancer care.”