The JING group brings together junior investigators across all disciplines of translational research within the ECMCs to help their development. It supports early career cancer researchers committed to becoming independent investigators, such clinical colleagues wishing to specialise in a cancer-relevant field and from final year of PhD onwards for non-clinical colleagues.
“Being one of the most junior attendees at JING, I was initially feeling quite out of my depth. But coming away with this good news was so encouraging - it reminded me that there is a place in this field of research for me too,” explains PJ Nambo, a PhD student in the Department of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Birmingham. Nambo’s project will look at disparities in the uptake of cervical screening, with a view to understanding why those from Black ethnic backgrounds are less likely to attend. It is hoped that this will facilitate a more equitable provision of healthcare services and equip practitioners to better support the health of ethnically diverse populations, whilst acknowledging their unique cultural and religious beliefs.
The other prize went to Richard Phillips, a medical doctor, who is investigating the role of immune cells in the peripheral blood in patients with liver cancer receiving immunotherapy. He is specifically exploring whether peripheral immune cells can give predictions of how well patients may respond to treatment, as well as who may experience toxicity.
"Winning a prize at the ECMC JING event has instilled a confidence in my ability and motivated me to pursue a career as an academic clinician. I was delighted to have been selected for a prize after presenting my work on liver cancer immunology amongst stiff competition from my peers," says Richard Phillips, an NIHR-funded Academic Clinical Fellow in Medical Oncology.
This good news comes of the back of recent confirmation that the Birmingham ECMC funding will continue for the next three years, enabling research across our portfolio to flourish until 2028.
