MDX announces exciting research partnership aimed at discovering cancer drugs

The project will focus on finding treatments to stop osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer, from spreading to other tissues such as the lungs

A charity set up by an inspiring young woman who suffered from a rare form of bone cancer has announced a new research partnership with Middlesex University aimed at discovering new drugs to prevent the spread of the disease.

Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity is funding a second PhD studentship at Middlesex University’s Centre for Investigative & Diagnostic Oncology. Led by Dr Helen Roberts, Associate Professor in Skeletal Cancer Research, this study will focus on identifying treatments to stop osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer, from spreading to other tissues such as the lungs.

After her own diagnosis with osteosarcoma in 2015, the charity was founded by Hannah Francis, a talented equestrian. Motivated by her experiences with limited treatment options, Hannah created her charity in March 2016 to fund vital research into the disease. Sadly, Hannah passed away in August 2016 at just 18 years old, but her vision continues to inspire impactful research.

For more than three decades, survival rates for osteosarcoma patients have not improved, largely due to insufficient understanding of how and why the cancer spreads. Dr Roberts’ earlier research project funded by Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity suggested that osteosarcoma interacts with osteoclasts—cells that break down bone tissue—to establish itself and then spread to the lungs. Academics found this effect can be reversed by the drug zoledronic acid, which is commonly used to treat osteoporosis, a disease that causes bones to become weak.

The new project will employ genetic engineering to delve deeper into how osteosarcoma spreads to the lungs and hopes to refine drug treatment strategies and improve patient outcomes.

“I’m thrilled to have the support of Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity to expand on our previous work together and develop treatments to prevent osteosarcoma from spreading to the lungs. Together with collaborators at the Royal Veterinary College, we will use cutting-edge genetic engineering models to advance our understanding and test new drugs.”

Dr Helen Roberts, Associate Professor in Skeletal Cancer Research

The project also benefits from the oncology expertise of Dr Song Wen, a Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Science at Middlesex University, and the tissue engineering experience of Dr Scott Roberts, a Reader in Translational Skeletal Research at the Royal Veterinary College.

Dr Scott Roberts, who has spent more than a decade developing lab-grown tissues to discover new therapeutic targets, said, “I’m excited to collaborate on this initiative. By combining genetic engineering with our current knowledge of osteosarcoma, we aim to identify drug targets that suppress tumour metastasis.”

The team has recruited Wendy Gomez, a talented student who has recently started the project at Middlesex University. Wendy, a graduate of Queen Mary University with an MSc in Biomedical Engineering (Distinction), shared her enthusiasm: “I’m honoured to join this ground-breaking research. I look forward to contributing to a deeper understanding of osteosarcoma metastasis.”

Professor Shân Wareing, Vice-Chancellor at Middlesex University, added, “We’re proud to support this important partnership with the Royal Veterinary College and Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity. Our Centre for Investigative & Diagnostic Oncology is committed to advancing cancer research and training the next generation of scientists like Wendy. Together, we aim to make meaningful strides in combatting cancer.”

Rachel Francis, Trustee of Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity and parent of Hannah Francis, added, “We’re delighted to be extending our support of Helen’s team at Middlesex University. Our first project contributed significantly to the understanding of osteosarcoma, and we have no doubt this new project will complement this. Hannah would be pleased to see the work of her charity continuing and this marks the ninth research project funded by her charity. We’re immensely grateful to all our supporters for enabling this to happen.”

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