Simon Gray
Dr Simon Gray is a Clinical Research Training Fellow based at teh University of Liverpool who will be working with AstraZeneca. He will will investigate if experimental skin sensitization (ECS) can be used to predict immune response to tumours and if this can predict people’s response to, and side effects from, immunotherapy. This is important as ECS may then be used as a tool to predict which patients may not respond to immunotherapy and need additional anti-cancer treatment.
When did your Fellowship start and how long will it last?
I will commence my fellowship in October 2025, and it will last for 3 years.
What were you doing prior to your Fellowship.
I am in the Medical Oncology specialist training programme, based at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Liverpool. Alongside this I am completing an Academic Clinical Fellowship with University of Liverpool, based in Professor Christian Ottensmeier’s laboratory.
Why did you choose this Fellowship Programme?
The nature of the fellowship’s completion alongside an industry partner was desirable – I am keen to develop an overall sense of what it is like to work as a researcher in a large pharmaceutical company and how this differs from academia. I value the inclusion of a structured face-to-face training programme which will address areas of research competence that I’ve had relatively little exposure to thus far. Completing a PhD can potentially feel isolating at times so the efforts made to make us feel part of a cohort, with regular meetings for teaching as well as a structured mentorship programme, are welcome.
What is the aim of your research?
We aim to quantify global immune competence in patients with cancer (head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer), using skin sensitization to induce a T-cell-biased immune infiltrate, and to correlate this with the tumour immune infiltrate in patients whose cancers have been resected with curative intent. We will also measure clinical responses to skin sensitization in cancer patients prior to commencing standard-of-care palliative-intent immune checkpoint inhibitors, hypothesizing that a stronger clinical response to sensitization will positively correlate with clinical benefit (and toxicity) from these therapies.
What inspired you to look at this field?
Since before studying medicine I have been fascinated by cell biology; I completed an intercalated degree in Pathology during my undergraduate studies which focused on cellular biology including cancer and the immune system. As a Medical Oncology registrar, clinical use of immunotherapies is routine and establishing the determinants of response to such therapies is an absolutely key question in our field. As such, I feel passionate about addressing the research questions we have laid out.
Which industry partner are you working with and how will they support you in achieving your goals? What will your partner gain from working with you?
We will be working with AstraZeneca as our industry partner. Dr Rachel Evans is an experienced scientist working in cancer immunology for AstraZeneca whom I’m glad to have as a co-supervisor. AstraZeneca will provide access to a wealth of experience around high-plex multiplex immunofluorescence technology including experience in the bioinformatics of spatial analysis, which will be required for in-depth analysis of the tumour microenvironment in patients treated with curative intent.
By working on this project, AstraZeneca gains access to, and experience with, a potentially promising biomarker for immunotherapies on valuable patient samples, as well as sharing of expertise regarding spatial analysis and T-cell biology which Professor Ottensmeier’s lab offers.
Why did you choose the University of Liverpool as your HEI partner?
Having already worked with Professor Ottensmeier and his team, and developed a research proposal which built on my experience over the course of my Academic Clinical Fellowship, to stay in Liverpool was an easy decision. In addition, I always felt well supported by the NIHR Integrated Academic Training team in Liverpool.
What do you plan to do when have completed your Fellowship?
I plan to apply for a clinical lectureship to run alongside the completion of my specialty training which will hopefully build on the data and work assembled during my fellowship.