Welcome to the Williams Blood Cancer Research Group.

The Williams Blood Cancer Research Group is focusing on identifying and targeting bone marrow microenvironment (BME) mediated therapy resistance mechanisms in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Multiple Myeloma (MM). The group is also developing and investigating novel antibody-based therapeutics and protein degraders/PROTACs in Myeloma. Ongoing studies are focusing on the contribution of macrophages and fibroblasts towards BME-driven therapy resistance, as well as investigating the mechanisms by which AML and MM cells reprogram cellular elements of the BME in AML and MM.

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We are interested in elucidating the mechanisms underlying macrophage and fibroblast mediated therapy resistance in AML and Myeloma. The Group has a particular focus on the role that mitochondrial transfer, STAT3 and CBP/P300 play in macrophage-driven therapy resistance in AML and Myeloma, and using novel STAT3 and CBP/P300 protein degraders/PROTACs to circumvent macrophage-induced resistance. With regards to investigating fibroblast-driven therapy resistance, we are interested in how fibroblast secreted factors activate the STAT5-MCL-1 axis in AML cells to induce resistance towards the multi cyclin-dependant kinase inhibitor/indirect MCL-1 inhibitor Fadraciclib (CYC065) currently in clinical trials, and how combining CYC065 with a novel STAT5 degrader could overcome fibroblast mediated resistance towards Fadraciclib.

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