The Simon Flavell Leukaemia Research Laboratory
Encyclopedia
The Simon Flavell Leukaemia Research Laboratory is based at Southampton General Hospital
and named after ten year old Simon Flavell who died in 1990 from an aggressive form of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). The laboratory specialises in researching and developing antibody type treatments for adults and children with currently incurable types of leukaemia.
The laboratory was opened officially on the 21st February 1993 by Gary Lineker
and his former wife Michelle and in 2008 underwent a complete refurbishment to bring it up to the high standards required by a laboratory involved in such world class life saving research. Originally part of the University of Southampton Medical School, The Simon Flavell Laboratory became independent in 2005 though still affiliated to the School of Medicine but now funded by the children’s leukaemia research charity Leukaemia Busters and other charitable sources.
The Simon Flavell laboratory focuses on translational research designed to bring benefits to patients directly. In the early years the laboratory was involved in the development and manufacture of two different immunotoxins for treating patients with lymphoma
, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and multiple myeloma
in phase I clinical trials. This continues and now the laboratory is involved in developing the next generation of genetically engineered immunotoxins that should prove safer to use and cheaper to manufacture. A main theme of the laboratory’s current research work is to devise ways of improving the therapeutic window
for immunotoxins to make them safer and more effective to use clinically. A number of seminal discoveries have been made there that show great promise for future clinical development.
The laboratory is currently headed by Simon’s parents Doctors David Flavell
and Sopsamorn (Bee) Flavell whose tireless quest to cure the disease is supported by world class scientists at home and abroad.
Southampton General Hospital
Southampton General Hospital is a large Teaching Hospital in Southampton, England, operated by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust...
and named after ten year old Simon Flavell who died in 1990 from an aggressive form of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). The laboratory specialises in researching and developing antibody type treatments for adults and children with currently incurable types of leukaemia.
The laboratory was opened officially on the 21st February 1993 by Gary Lineker
Gary Lineker
Gary Winston Lineker, OBE , is a former English footballer, who played as a striker. He is a sports broadcaster for the BBC, Al Jazeera Sports and Eredivisie Live...
and his former wife Michelle and in 2008 underwent a complete refurbishment to bring it up to the high standards required by a laboratory involved in such world class life saving research. Originally part of the University of Southampton Medical School, The Simon Flavell Laboratory became independent in 2005 though still affiliated to the School of Medicine but now funded by the children’s leukaemia research charity Leukaemia Busters and other charitable sources.
The Simon Flavell laboratory focuses on translational research designed to bring benefits to patients directly. In the early years the laboratory was involved in the development and manufacture of two different immunotoxins for treating patients with lymphoma
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage...
, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma , also known as plasma cell myeloma or Kahler's disease , is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell normally responsible for the production of antibodies...
in phase I clinical trials. This continues and now the laboratory is involved in developing the next generation of genetically engineered immunotoxins that should prove safer to use and cheaper to manufacture. A main theme of the laboratory’s current research work is to devise ways of improving the therapeutic window
Therapeutic window
The Therapeutic window of a drug is the range of drug dosages which can treat disease effectively while staying within the safety range. In other words, it is the dosages of a medication between the amount that gives an effect and the amount that gives more adverse effects than desired effects...
for immunotoxins to make them safer and more effective to use clinically. A number of seminal discoveries have been made there that show great promise for future clinical development.
The laboratory is currently headed by Simon’s parents Doctors David Flavell
David Flavell
Dr David J Flavell BSc PhD FRCPath is a British academic research scientist specialising in the development of antibody-based treatments for adults and children with various forms of leukaemia and lymphoma....
and Sopsamorn (Bee) Flavell whose tireless quest to cure the disease is supported by world class scientists at home and abroad.