Development and Structural Characterisation of Immuno-oncology Biotherapeutics

Cancer immunotherapies such as CAR-T cells and cancer vaccines have transformed outcomes for some patients, but their benefits are not yet shared equally across Wales due to genetic diversity in how people’s immune systems recognise cancer. This fellowship addresses that challenge by developing next-generation immuno-oncology biotherapeutics designed from the outset to work across the diverse genetic backgrounds represented in the Welsh population.

By combining advanced structural biology with immunology, this research will reveal how T-cell therapies recognise cancer at a molecular level, enabling the rational design of more effective and inclusive treatments. Importantly, the work focuses on under-represented HLA types, helping to tackle health inequalities that currently limit access to cutting-edge immunotherapies.

The fellowship will embed specialist expertise in cancer immunotherapy and structural biology within Cardiff, strengthening Wales’s capacity to develop equitable, sustainable treatments. Welsh patients stand to benefit first through improved access to future immunotherapies designed to work for everyone, before wider adoption across the UK and internationally.