CAMBRIDGE, England,
NEWCASTLE, England and BENGALURU,
India, June
25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SKAN Research Trust (SKAN),
promoted by Indian entrepreneur Ashok
Soota, today announced a joint research project with the
UK-based Wellcome Sanger Institute (Sanger Institute) and
University of Newcastle
(Newcastle), to study early
somatic mutations in blood stem cells that researchers believe
drive several cancerous and non-cancerous conditions. The research
collaboration will extend cutting-edge stem cell genomic analysis
to cancer subtypes such as Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH), an
immune cell disorder that largely afflicts children aged between 0
to 15 years.
![SKAN, the Wellcome Sanger Institute and University of Newcastle to study early stem cell mutations in rare blood disorder SKAN, the Wellcome Sanger Institute and University of Newcastle to study early stem cell mutations in rare blood disorder](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2447397/SKAN_theWellcomeSangerInstitute_UniversityofNewcastle.jpg)
The research project titled Deciphering the Origins of
Langerhan Cell Histiocytosis and Related Histiocytic Neoplasms
will be led by Dr Jyoti Nangalia,
Group Leader at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and Wellcome-MRC Stem
Cell Institute. The study will examine the timestamp of the genetic
mutations that drives LCH and the presentation of its clinical
symptoms.
Researchers will work with leading LCH treating research centres
worldwide to cover LCH driven by different genetic mutations with
SKAN specifically creating a large cohort of Indian children for
the study. The study comes at a time when researchers are still
grappling with understanding how some genetic mutations that drive
LCH result in lesions appearing in different parts of the body at
different times. Researchers hope that the study will pave the way
for better understanding the disease's progression and possible
early interventionist strategies for its management.
Mr. Ashok Soota, the Chairman
& Managing Trustee of SKAN, said "We are delighted
to be partnering with the Sanger Institute and University of
Newcastle in a project which gives
us dual benefits: understanding the mutation of stem cells and an
insight into LCH, an underfunded cancer. The research is expected
to develop valuable clinical tests that will aid doctors understand
what to expect of each patient."
Dr Jyoti Nangalia, Group
Leader at the Wellcome-MRC Stem Cell Institute and Wellcome Sanger
Institute, said, "These disorders are an enigma and they are
likely to have a unique genomic origin. Whilst we are aware that
specific mutations are able to drive the disorders, we do not
understand how such events result in a multitude of tissues being
affected at different times in life, nor why clinical disease often
follows distinct patterns across different patients. We hope that
our genomics research at the Sanger Institute will shed light on
the origin and trajectory of these diseases to help patients in the
future."
Newcastle University and its
Principal Investigator, Prof. Matthew
Collin, who have played a major role in establishing
diagnostic and blood monitoring pipelines for LCH, (now adopted by
the UK NHS Genomic Medicine Services), will also be part of this
collaboration.
Prof Matthew
Collin said, "For patients with these disorders,
it is tremendous that state-of-the-art approaches will be brought
to bear on increasing our knowledge of how they arise. We are also
very excited to extend the reach of research and training to new
partners in other healthcare systems."
Mr Davis Karedan, Vice
Chairman & Trustee of SKAN said, "This
collaboration is another step in SKAN's efforts to establish a
robust inhouse stem cell research capability and comes on the back
of its international collaboration with the Cambridge Stem Cell
Institute".
About SKAN Research Trust
SKAN is a Bengaluru-based not-for-profit medical research trust
that leverages transformational technologies to develop new
therapies for ageing and neurological ailments, cardiovascular
diseases, diabetes remission and lifestyle related disorders. SKAN
applies its expertise in gut microbiome, genomics, stem cells,
molecular biology, biomarkers, immunotherapies, nutrition, and
alternate therapies to uncover kinder and gentler treatment
protocols for ailments. Bioinformatics at SKAN vigorously pursues
cutting edge artificial intelligence, machine learning and other
advanced technologies to predict, pre-empt, diagnose, treat, and
facilitate remission of medical disorders. The Mission statement of
SKAN is "Transform the future of medicine. Impacting millions of
lives".
Media contact: contactus@skanrt.in
Careers: Talent@SKANrt.in
About Wellcome Sanger Institute
Founded to sequence the human genome, the Sanger Institute is a
biomedical research centre recognized globally for undertaking
large scale genome science that forms the foundations of knowledge
in biology and medicine. In order to deliver on its mission to
"apply and explore genomic technologies at scale to advance the
understanding of biology and improve health", the Sanger Institute
is committed to collaborating, leading, convening, engaging
globally and providing world-class training to scientists and
specialists in genomic research. The Sanger Institute strategically
deploys its Wellcome core funding to enable faculty-driven genomic
science, making discoveries not easily made elsewhere.
About University of Newcastle
As a member of the Russell Group, an association of 24
research-intensive institutions in the UK, Newcastle is
delivering pioneering research that makes a positive impact
in the world. From reversing Type 2 diabetes to protecting
cultural property, Newcastle
researchers are tackling international challenges to improve lives
and influence policy around the world. Newcastle has one of the largest
European Union research portfolios in the UK.
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