Our people
The Jack Birch Unit brings together researchers from disciplines and departments across the University of York.
The Jack Birch Unit
Pioneering cutting-edge cancer research at the University of York.
“Our funding from York Against Cancer presents a fantastic opportunity to expand our research in breast, bladder, ovary, colon and kidney cancers to accelerate the development of new treatments that can make a real difference to the lives of cancer patients in the future.”
Professor Will Brackenbury, Director of the Jack Birch Unit.
Research programmes
The Jack Birch Unit is leading research into poorly understood aspects of the local microenvironment of epithelial tumours.
As part of the York Biomedical Research Institute and in collaboration with the Hull York Medical School, our strategy is built around building on our strong track record in fundamental bladder and breast cancer research, whilst growing capabilities in other tumour types, including those of the ovary, colon and kidney, as well as undertaking translational research to move findings towards the clinic.
Revealing the landscape in which cancers from different regions of the urinary tract arise, grow and spread. Our unique perspective drives the development of novel prevention strategies and treatments.
Understanding how and why sodium accumulates in solid tumours. Translational studies incorporating sodium into diagnostic imaging protocols and repurposing existing ion channel-blocking drugs to suppress metastasis.
Studying how transcriptome instability in cancer and immune cells affects tumour immunogenicity and responses to immunotherapy to identify tractable therapeutic targets that bridge cancer immunotherapy and RNA medicine.
Our research
Find out more about how our research is having an impact on biomedical science.
Contact us
We welcome enquiries from organisations wishing to partner with us.