Cervical cancer cells dividing. The cells in this image are HeLa cells, a cultured cell line that was derived from a biopsy of a cervical tumour from Henrietta Lacks who died of cervical cancer in 1951 aged 31.(photo credit – Electron Microscopy STP, Francis Crick Institute)

Outwitting Cancer – Making Sense of Nature’s Enigma is an immersive exhibition exploring the latest cancer research taking place at the Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT – Europe’s largest biomedical research institute under one roof.

The free exhibition runs from Saturday 25th September 2021 until July 2022, Outwitting Cancer is also the first exhibition on cancer to take place within the setting of a working science laboratory, which is home to leading cancer scientists from across the world.

Lung tumour, the tumour cells (cyan) express proteins (pink) to handle low oxygen environments. These images allow scientists to examine blood vessels (red) in the tumour microenvironment, which is important as blood vessels supply cancer cells with oxygen but can also be a highway for immune cells which can help to fight cancer.
(photo credit – Charlie Swanton lab, Francis Crick Institute)

Eight specially commissioned films capture conversations between cancer researchers, patients and those with unique personal perspectives on cancer, meeting for the first time to explore some of the big questions driving research.

The series of short films form the backbone of the exhibition, and include:

• BBC journalist George Alagiah, who is living with bowel cancer, meets Vivian Li, Stem Cell and Cancer scientist, as she creates ‘mini-organs’ (organoids) in the quest to personalise cancer treatments.
• Renowned cell biologist Mariann Bienz, who had a lung removed as part of her own cancer treatment, meets Charlie Swanton, Cancer Research UK’s Chief Clinician and Crick group leader to talk about the evolution of tumours.
• Lawyer and brain cancer patient Adam Blain, meets scientist Simon Boulton to talk about the role of DNA in cancer as well as his experience of having a tumour which was first diagnosed by his wife.
• Cancer Research UK’s Chief Scientist Karen Vousden talks to Alix Fox (broadcaster and sex educator) to bust some cancer myths including: do elephants get cancer and is cancer ‘contagious’?
• Crick scientist Erik Sahai meets Dr Georgette Oni, a trailblazing plastic reconstructive surgeon, as they discuss how cancer spreads
• Dominique Bonnet, an expert in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia at the Crick, gives journalist Tim Jonze, who is living with a rare blood disease, a behind-the-scenes tour of her labs.

Red blood cells and white blood cells / Crick scientist Dominique Bonnet is using her expert knowledge of how white blood cells are made in the bone marrow to decipher what goes wrong when this process goes out of control, giving rise to a type of blood cancer called acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Dominique was the first to discover a surprising phenomenon: that a whole variety of cancerous white blood cells can originate from just one malfunctioning stem cell. Her lab is rapidly gathering further knowledge to unravel the mysterious mechanism that causes blood stem cells to malfunction, helping pinpoint ways to stop it and restore health. (photo credit – Electron Microscopy STP, Francis Crick Institute)

The final two films reveal the work taking place at two pioneering biopharmaceutical companies, built on research at the Crick, as they develop revolutionary therapies tackling cancer:

• Medical ethics expert, Deborah Bowman MBE interviews Iraj Ali of Achilles Therapeutics about personalised treatment using the patient’s own immune system to fight their cancer.
• Professor Adrian Hayday and Dr Oliver Nussbaumer from GammaDelta Therapeutics discuss their pioneering work into new cell therapy which could become available in a similar way to donated blood from blood banks.

The exhibition also features an audiovisual installation in a custom-built cinema.  Produced by Studio Prelude and SDNA this immersive film, Micro Cosmos, weaves together stunning microscopy imagery from Crick researchers, as well as a newly commissioned soundscape from artist Mira Calix.  Alongside the exhibition there will be a lively programme of events and talks, as well as an in-depth digital experience with additional exhibition content.

Cancer remains one of the world’s most widespread and deadly diseases, with 1 in 2 of us developing cancer in our lifetime.  Through the immersive films and accompanying exquisite microscopy imagery, Outwitting Cancer addresses questions including “what is cancer?” and “why are so many people still dying from cancer?”.

Paul Nurse, Director of the Francis Crick Institute, said: “Unravelling the mysteries of human biology and using this to develop new ways to tackle diseases like cancer is at the heart of what we do at the Crick. Over recent years we have seen discoveries about how cancers evolve and new approaches to treating cancer. This exhibition will bring to life the journey our researchers are on to understand how cancer starts, spreads and responds to therapy.” 

Yasmin Khan, curator said: “Outwitting Cancer is about the power and potential of cancer research.  The exhibition will get into the minds of the brilliant scientists working at the forefront of biological research.  It will seek to dispel confusion through an immersive digital exploration of the complexity of cancer, opening up new conversations around the disease and its future.”

Outwitting Cancer: Making Sense of Nature’s Enigma was developed in collaboration with a Patient Advisory Panel (PAP) brought together to develop the exhibition at the Francis Crick.  All PAP members have some lived experience of cancer, whether it is personal or through a family member. The PAP have also co-created a zine – ‘Onco’Zine – A Rough Guide to Cancer for visitors to take away.

Lung cancer cells and cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs)
(photo credit – Erik Sahai lab, Francis Crick Institute)

An oral squamous cell carcinoma, which is the most common type of mouth cancer. (photo credit – Electron Microscopy STP, Francis Crick Institute; John F Marshall, Barts Cancer Institute, QMUL)

…………………………..

The gallery will be open Wednesdays 10am – 8pm  and Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 10am – 4pm.  The exhibition will follow all government guidance on managing the risk of COVID-19.

Alongside the exhibition there will be a lively programme of events and talks, as well as an in-depth digital experience with additional exhibition content. Visit http://crick.ac.uk/outwittingcancer or @TheCrick for further details.

Breast cancer cell
(photo credit – Electron Microscopy STP, Francis Crick Institute)

Art, Cellular, Education, Science, Technology