Participate in
The ETCh
Study

Join us in
our journey to discover new treatments for
a cancer free
future

Long

Term

Survivor

Study

Have you
survived cancer
for more than
three years?

About the study

THE ETCh STUDY

Decoding the immune repertoire for health and disease

WHY ARE WE RUNNING THIS STUDY?

The immune systems

of cancer survivors hold the key to new cures

We’re inviting people who are living with or have survived cancer as well as healthy volunteers to participate in a research study to help us develop new treatments that harness the power of a patient’s own immune system to fight the disease.

WHAT IS THIS STUDY LOOKING AT?

We know that the immune system works together with cancer treatments to fight the disease. In particular, ‘killer’ cells known as T cells play an important role in recognising and destroying cancer cells. They do this through uniquely shaped receptors known as T cell receptors, or TCRs.

TCRs and antibodies in the immune systems of people who have survived cancer can ‘remember’ the specific molecules within tumours that they responded to when they were fighting the disease.

Our researchers will analyse blood samples from cancer survivors to identify the components of the immune system that are driving the response to cancer and discover which faulty molecules they recognise within tumours.

Uncovering these specific targets will allow us to develop new therapies targeting the same molecules, which could help other patients fight cancer in the future.

We will also look at blood samples from healthy individuals to build a richer picture of the immune system.

WHAT WILL YOU BE ASKED TO DO

AS A PARTICIPANT IN THIS STUDY?

At your enrolment visit, you will be asked to complete a short health questionnaire and (for those in the cancer arm of the study) a follow-up questionnaire about your cancer diagnosis and treatment. If you agree to join the study, you will be asked to give a blood sample (between 50ml and 300ml) up to five times over the course of a year at our research facility at the Harwell Science & Innovation campus, around 15 miles south of Oxford..

Who can participate?

Who can participate
in this study?

You can join the study if you:

• Are aged 18-65, male or female.

• Are currently living with, or have survived any type of clinically confirmed cancer.*

• Are able to provide informed consent to take part.

• Are able to donate blood safely.

• Are not pregnant.

* People who are not living with or have not been diagnosed with cancer may be eligible for the healthy donor arm of this study.

WHY SHOULD I TAKE PART IN THIS STUDY?

By taking part in this study, you’ll be contributing to research that could underpin the discovery and development of powerful new treatments for cancer.

ARE THERE ANY RISKS IN TAKING

PART IN THIS STUDY?

Blood donation is safe, and the small amount of blood being taken should not cause any problems for a typical adult.

We are careful to protect your privacy and ensure that our data handling measures meet the requirements of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY BLOOD SAMPLE?

Part of your sample will be used to look at components of the immune system, such as T cell receptors (TCRs).

The remainder will be frozen for long-term storage and, if you approve, may be used anonymously in other ethically approved health studies in the future.

The blood samples will be kept up to 15 years after the end of the study.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE DATA THAT YOU COLLECT?

A small number of relevant members of our team will have access to participants’ identifiable data during the study.

Personal information about participants will be stored on secure servers for up to 12 months following the end of the study then deleted.

WILL I BE PAID TO TAKE PART IN THE STUDY?

Each participant will be given £20 per visit to cover the inconvenience of attending, increasing to £30 for travel over 10 miles, or £35 for travel over 20 miles. We will also be offering the option to donate some or all of this payment to one of five nominated charities instead.

Participants will not benefit financially from taking part in this study. For example, you will not receive any money if this research leads to the commercial development of a new therapeutic.

WHAT IF I START THE STUDY

BUT DON’T WANT TO CONTINUE?

Participation in this study is purely voluntary. If at any stage you do not wish to continue, inform a member of the study team. You will also have the option to have any samples or data collected from you to be destroyed.

WILL I FIND OUT THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY?

We cannot provide any information back to you about your own immune cells or health, but you will have the option of allowing us to contact your GP if we find anything that may be cause for concern.

We will publish the results from the study in the scientific literature if it’s appropriate. All personal data will be anonymised prior to the publication of any findings.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I NEED TO KNOW?

This study has been reviewed and approved by a research ethics committee (IRAS NUMBER - 308371) who are happy with the scientific justification, design and infrastructure of this study.

How to join