uk renal oncology group
A UK network of clinical researchers collaborating to address unmet kidney cancer patient needs
ABOUT us
The UK Renal Oncology Group (UK ROG) is a collaborative research group of renal oncologists in the UK. Founded in 2024, following the dissolution of the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Bladder and Renal Clinical Studies Group, the group aims to bring together research active principal and chief investigators in renal cancer in the UK. Our aim is to be a vehicle for renal cancer research within the UK with industry sponsored and investigator-initiated trials, translational work and real-world data.
UK ROG and this website are supported by Action Kidney Cancer, the UK’s only patient-led kidney cancer charity providing support to anyone affected by kidney cancer.
Contact Us
For more information or to join the UK Renal Oncology Group
info@ukrog.org
Podcasts
Podcast
The Immunobuddies is a podcast with an interest in the area of immunotherapy and its development. Discussing the dilemmas, challenges and progress made in the management of patients receiving immunotherapies to treat cancer.
Video
A series of UroToday video interviews with renal cancer experts from around the world. These videos discuss results from recent clinical trials and their implications for clinical practice. Highlights from major uro-oncology conferences are also presented and discussed by the experts, along with changes to routine clinical practice and guidelines.
Podcast
The Uromigos podcasts are a significant resource for balanced scientific content related to the care of patients with GU malignancies. The foundational principles of both the live meeting and podcasts are to challenge conventional thinking, to encourage diverse and unbiased viewpoints and to promote early career researchers.
UK ROG Members
Click here for a full list of members
- Will Ince – Cambridge University Hospitals, Addenbrookes Hospital (Chair)
- Salma Alam – East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, Stevenage
- Jenny Allison – Edinburgh Cancer Centre, NHS Lothian
- Giuseppe Banna – Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
- Axel Bex – Royal Free Hospital, London
- Katia Boleti – Royal free Hospital, London
- Janet Brown – University of Sheffield
- Anne-Laure Cattin – Francis Crick Institute
- Natalie Charnley – Royal Preston Hospital
- Danielle Crawley – Kings College London
- Prantik Das – Royal Derby Hospital
- Helen Dearden – Leeds teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Claire Dyke – Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
- Kate Fife – Cambridge University Hospitals, Addenbrookes Hospital
- Ricky Frazer – Velindre University NHS Trust, Cardiff
- Andrew Furness – Royal Marsden Hospital, London
- Richard Griffiths – Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Wiral, Liverpool
- James Jones – Cambridge University Hospitals, Addenbrookes Hospital
- James Larkin – Royal Marsden Hospital, London
- Laura Marandino – Royal Marsden Hospital, London
- Alec Maynard – Nottingham University Hospitals
- John McGrane – Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro
- Salena Mulhere – Patient advocate
- Paul Nathan – Mount Vernon Hospital, Uxbridge
- Brent O’Carrigan – Cambridge University Hospitals, Addenbrookes Hospital
- Lisa Pickering – Royal Marsden Hospital, London
- Manon Pillai – The Christie Hospital, Manchester
- Tom Powles – Barts Cancer Centre, London
- Christy Ralph – Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Hannah Reed – University Hospitals Bristol and Weston
- Pasquale Rescigno – Newcastle University Centre for Cancer
- Sarah Rudman – Guys’ and St Thomas’ Hospital, London
- Antonio Rullan – Royal Free Hospital, London
- Anand Sharma – Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood
- Scott Shepherd – Royal Marsden Hospital and The Francis Crick Institute, London
- Mark Stares – Edinburgh Cancer Centre, NHS Lothian
- Grant Stewart – Cambridge University Hospitals, Addenbrookes Hospital
- Bernadett Szabados – University College London Hospital
- Jose Tapia – Barts Health NHS Trust, London
- Zayd Tippu – Royal Marsden Hospital and The Francis Crick Institute, London
- Samra Turajlic – Royal Marsden Hospital and The Francis Crick Institute, London
- Mark Tuthill – Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Nav Vasudev – Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Bala Venugopal – The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, Glasgow
- Tom Waddell – The Christie Hospital, Manchester
news
research
REFINe: (Reduced Frequency ImmuNE checkpoint inhibition in cancers)
A randomised phase II, multi-stage, multi-arm (MAMS), basket trial investigating reduced intensity administration of immune checkpoint inhibition across multiple cancer types.
More Information
The initial cohorts (baskets) will be patients with renal cancer receiving ipilimumab + nivolumab and patients with melanoma receiving ipilimumab + nivolumab and patients with melanoma receiving pembrolizumab. Patients responding to initial induction treatment will be randomised to continue standard treatment or receive reduced intensity treatment. The trial is being run at 26 NHS hospitals in the UK.
Study participants: 160 adults with locally advanced or metastatic cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors as standard-of-care and responding to treatment (i.e. complete or partial response or stable disease) after induction treatment in the UK.
Outcome measures:
Primary: Progression-free survival (time to event)
Secondary:
• Overall survival Quality-of-Life (QoL)
• Treatment related toxicity
• Mean incremental cost per patient
• Mean incremental QALYs per patient
• Cost-utility analysis assessing cost-effectiveness of reduced vs. standard frequency administration.
Chief Investigator: Dr Duncan Gilbert
Sponsor: University College London (MRC)
For more information email: mrcctu.refine@ucl.ac.uk or visit the website here: REFINE
MANIFEST: Multiomic Analysis of Immunotherapy Features Evidencing Success and Toxicity
MANIFEST is a multiomic profiling platform to understand immunotherapy response, resistance and toxicity.
More Information
The initial testing includes 3,000 patients from retrospective studies (PRISM, TransRAMPART) to support translational work followed by recruitment of 3,000 patients who are starting treatment across the UK for breast, bladder, kidney and skin cancer, with plans to include additional cancer types as the programme expands.
Funding: £9 million from the MRC and the Office for Life Sciences, with an additional £12.9 million in matched funds from industry partners.
The vision for the next 3 to 4 years is to standardise sampling and assays at scale, moving beyond single biomarkers to integrate multiomics. Aim to bridge the gap between emerging science and practical clinical implementation by identifying biomarker signatures and contributing to scientific progress. Additionally, plan to explore future immune oncology agents beyond current immune checkpoints, with an ongoing focus on closely aligning these efforts with clinical needs.
Over four years, molecular profiling data – including samples from blood, stool, and tissue biopsies (spanning six workflows) – will be collected to construct a comprehensive database across various cancer types and treatments for use by the academic community. Industry partners are contributing to the platform’s sustainability.
Current sites in the consortium include London (RMH and Barts), Cambridge, Manchester and Edinburgh. Belfast, Glasgow, St Andrews, Leeds and York will be brought online in phase 2 of the programme. Engagement is being sought from sites across the UK.
Project coordinator: Samra Turaljic, The Crick Institute
For more information, please email Samra Turajlic or Zayd Tippu or visit the website here: MANIFEST.
Read the press release here.
CARE1: A European study of first-line treatment of metastatic kidney cancer
CARE1 is a European project coordinated by Gustave Roussy, initiated on May 1st, 2023.
More Information
Focused on pragmatic clinical trials, it aims to improve the first-line treatment for patients with metastatic kidney cancer by implementing a routine biomarker, leveraging a unique academic network in Europe.
CARE1 was designed to determine the optimal combination for patients using a routine implementable biomarker.
This prospective randomised phase III study aims to recruit 1,250 treatment-naive patients with metastatic clear cell RCC from 8 European countries to compare the combination of two immunotherapies versus the combination of targeted therapy + immunotherapy, based on the tumour’s PD-L1 status. PD-L1 status for each patient is determined through immunohistochemistry conducted by the pathology laboratory at the patient’s treatment centre. The primary endpoint of the study is overall survival in the PD-L1+ population, with a co-primary endpoint of overall survival and progression-free survival in the PD-L1- population.
CARE1 will establish a large-scale platform to define the best standard of treatment based on a routine biomarker to enhance treatment efficacy. In the long term, a data collection effort, including the creation of a pathological and blood biobank, will be conducted on a European scale.
This programme is supported by European funding of 5.5 million euros.
Project Coordinator: Prof. Laurence Albiges, Head of the Department of Oncology, Gustave Roussy.
For more information email Tom Powles or visit the website here: CARE1
UK ROG and this website are supported by Action Kidney Cancer, the UK’s only patient-led kidney cancer charity providing support to anyone affected by kidney cancer.
Registered charity in England, Wales (1164238), and Scotland (SC051330).
UK ROG 