Kings College London

Kings College London is a Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research Centre of Excellence.

We are currently investing £3.8 million into research at this centre. Find out more about all Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research's Centres of Excellence.

Kings College London has been recognised for its outstanding research into the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) as well as other rare blood disorders such as aplastic anaemia. We are also investing in world-class research into adult leukaemias.

Read about the unveiling of the Kings College London Centre of Excellence.

Our scientists here are renowned international leaders who both treat patients at Kings College Hospital and Guys and St Thomas’ as well as researching new treatments and improvements in diagnosis for blood cancers.

Targeted treatments  

Research led by Professor Ghulam Mufti and Dr Joop Gaken at Kings College London is investigating the genetic causes of the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

In particular, the research team are looking at group of molecules called miRNAs, which have been found to be important in many other blood cancers, yet their role in MDS is largely unknown. 

Their research has shown that different patterns of these molecules can be used to diagnose what subtype of MDS each the patient has. Further research will help to improve diagnosis and develop more targeted treatments for these difficult-to-treat diseases.

Personalising treatments

Scientists at Kings College London were the first to truly personalise treatment for adult leukaemia patients using a test that accurately predicts relapse.

This study, carried out by Professor David Grimwade and funded by Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, used the minimal residual disease (MRD) test to identify signs of  relapse much earlier than was previously possible, allowing doctors to modify treatment accordingly. 

Results of this study, which were published in 2009, proved that MRD monitoring can improve the outcome for patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL), a particularly aggressive form of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Our Scientists now hope to replicate the success of the MRD test, which was initially developed by us to guide treatment for childhood leukaemia, for patients with other blood cancers.

Professor Grimwade, who is an expert in APL, also has Specialist Programme funding from Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research to investigate the causes of this blood cancer. Research has identified a specific gene called PML-RARA, which is present in all APL cells. Professor Grimwade’s research aims to understand how this gene arises in healthy blood cells to make them cancerous so that new treatments that target this gene can be developed.

New treatments for CLL

New research led by Dr Stephen Devereux at Kings College London is seeking to understand how the immune system, which normally fights infection, seems to support leukaemia cells in the blood.

By studying how the normal immune system interacts with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) cells, Dr Devereux hopes to understand why this disease progresses more quickly in some patients. This will allow us to develop new, less toxic treatments that slow the rate at which CLL progresses.

Coupled with this research, Dr Devereux is running a clinical trial from Kings College Hospital to test whether the addition of antibiotics into the treatment protocol for CLL, can relieve some of the symptoms of this disease.

Stem cells

Stem cells, which make blood cells, are the source of blood cancers, and need to be targeted in order to eradicate these diseases completely.

Dr Eric So, at Kings College London, is investigating a group of genes, called HOX genes, that play an important role in maintaining both normal and leukaemia stem cells. This research will provide crucial evidence to help us target stem cells more effectively.