Outreach

Scientists at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research in Oxford are investigating what goes wrong inside cells to cause cancer. By understanding how cancer cells behave, how they differ from healthy cells, and how they respond to signals in the body, we aim to find ways to prevent cancer, diagnose cancer earlier, and develop better treatments. 

Public engagement

Public engagement is an important part of our work. We want to make cancer research more accessible by creating opportunities for people to meet our scientists, so they can ask questions and be inspired by our research.

To do this, we take part in a wide range of activities, from festivals, talks and hands-on demonstrations, to hosting A level students in our careers week. Together, these activities give people of all ages the chance to explore how cancer research is carried out, and discover how basic biological discoveries can lead to advances in health.

Biomedical Research Career Week

We are proud to take part in the Biomedical Research Career Week alongside the Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM) and the Centre for Human Genetics (CHG).

Each year, A level students visit the Old Road Campus for an immersive week exploring biomedical research. Students gain hands-on laboratory experience, meet researchers and research support staff, and learn about what a career in biomedical research can look like, while gaining the confidence to ask questions and think like scientists.

To find out more, please email BRC_week@idrm.ox.ac.uk.

Oxford Open Doors

In September, we open the Old Road Campus Research Building to the public as part of Oxford Open Doors, a city-wide celebration of heritage, culture and innovation organised by the Oxford Preservation Trust.

During the event, visitors can meet researchers from across the Old Road Campus, explore the science taking place in the building, and learn more about how discoveries in the laboratory are helping to improve our understanding of cancer and other diseases. Through interactive science stalls and guided lab tours, visitors of all ages can discover what cancer researchers do and how research happens.

To find out more about Oxford Open Doors and what else is on, please visit the Oxford Preservation Trust website.

Community events

We also regularly take part in community events that bring science out of the laboratory and into more informal settings, such as Headington Festival and Pint of Science.

At Headington Festival we run a stall and use hands-on activities to introduce visitors to cancer research and the science taking place at the Institute, while at Pint of Science researchers share their work through accessible talks and discussion. These events give our researchers the chance to talk with local communities, answer questions and share the science taking place in Oxford.

Our stall at Headington Festival

TEDx youth

Claudia Zagami, a DPhil student from Francesco Boccellato’s group, gave a talk at the TEDx Youth in Varese.