Sussex Cancer Fund Supports Groundbreaking Cancer Research Through SCRC Pump-Priming Awards
Sussex Cancer Fund is proud to be funding an innovative new cancer research project through the Sussex Cancer Research Centre (SCRC) Pump-Priming Awards programme, helping local scientists take important early steps towards the development of potential future cancer treatments.
The project, led by Professor Ulrich Rass at the University of Sussex’s Genome Damage and Stability Centre in collaboration with Erika Mancini, Director of the Sussex Drug Discovery Centre, is exploring a promising new way to target cancer cells by identifying inhibitors of a protein called DNA2. Researchers hope this work could eventually contribute to the development of new treatments for cancers that are currently difficult to treat, including pancreatic cancer.
The Sussex Cancer Research Centre Pump-Priming Awards are supported by Sussex Cancer Fund as part of the charity’s commitment to advancing local cancer research and improving outcomes for people affected by cancer across Sussex. The awards are designed to fund early-stage research projects that show strong promise but require initial evidence and proof-of-concept data before researchers can apply for major national or international funding.
By funding this early work, Sussex Cancer Fund helps researchers generate the crucial data needed to unlock much larger future grants and accelerate promising discoveries towards real patient benefit.
DNA2 is a protein involved in helping cells repair and replicate their DNA. Cancer cells, which grow and divide rapidly, often rely heavily on DNA2 to survive the stress caused by uncontrolled growth. Researchers believe that blocking DNA2 activity could overwhelm cancer cells while leaving healthy cells less affected.
The Sussex team has already made significant progress in understanding how DNA2 works. Their recent research has enabled scientists to visualise the actions of DNA2 in cells for the first time.
With support through the Sussex Cancer Fund-backed pump-priming programme, the team will now screen a library of around 10,000 compounds to identify genuine DNA2 inhibitors that could eventually be developed into future anti-cancer drugs.
Researchers believe the work could have potential across several cancer types linked to high levels of “replication stress”, particularly pancreatic cancer, where treatment options remain limited and survival rates remain low.
Professor Ulrich Rass, Professor of Genome Stability at the University of Sussex, said:
“DNA2 is critical for genome replication and has emerged as a promising anti-cancer target, but validated small-molecule inhibitors are not yet available. We are grateful to SCF for providing vital support in translating our break-through insights into DNA2 biology into biomedical application and, ultimately, patient benefit.”
The project brings together expertise from the University of Sussex Genome Damage and Stability Centre and the Sussex Drug Discovery Centre, combining cutting-edge cancer biology with specialist drug discovery capability.
Steve Crocker, Research Lead Trustee at Sussex Cancer Fund, said:
“At Sussex Cancer Fund, we are passionate about supporting local cancer research with the potential to make a real difference to future patient care. Through our partnership with the Sussex Cancer Research Centre and the Pump-Priming Awards programme, we can help researchers take those vital first steps that larger funders often require before major investment is possible. It means exciting ideas developed here in Sussex have the opportunity to grow into larger research programmes with the potential to improve cancer treatment both locally and internationally.”
Simon Mitchell, Director of the Sussex Cancer Research Centre, added:
“The support of Sussex Cancer Fund is absolutely vital to the success of the Pump-Priming Awards. Early-stage funding is often one of the hardest things for researchers to secure, yet it can make the difference between an idea remaining in the laboratory or progressing towards future clinical impact. This partnership enables us to support innovative collaborations across Sussex and strengthen the region’s growing reputation for cancer research excellence.”
The project has already begun producing encouraging results. Researchers have successfully established a high-throughput screening system capable of reliably detecting potential DNA2 inhibitors and recently presented aspects of the work at the international Genome Integrity and Cancer conference in China.
Through initiatives like the SCRC Pump-Priming Awards, Sussex Cancer Fund continues to invest in local research, helping bring together scientists, clinicians and research organisations across Sussex to drive forward innovation and future improvements in cancer care.
Hudson, J.J.R., Appanah, R., Jones, D. et al. DNA2 enables growth by restricting recombination-restarted replication. Nature 646, 992–1000 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09470-5
