The Center for Immuno-Oncology (CIO) investigates how our immune system reacts to cancer and what we can do to improve tumour immunity. We combine deep fundmental understanding of immunology with preclinical studies to translate new knowledge into clinical trials with the aim of developing new life-saving treatments for a spectrum of cancers.
Oxford’s long history of excellence in immunology is now focused on cancer, and CIO is the hub of the University-wide Oxford Cancer Immuno-Oncology Network (OCION) which links immuno-oncology researchers from multiple disciplines from across the University of Oxford, its affiliated hospitals and industrial partners.
CIO News
Advancing cancer care: Dr Ignacio Melero awarded ESMO prize for immunotherapy innovation
10 December 2025
The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) has awarded the ESMO Immuno-Oncology Prize to Dr Ignacio Melero, Kidani Professor of Immuno-Therapeutics at the University of Oxford, in recognition of his major contributions to immuno-oncology over recent decades.
Shared Learning in Cancer Research: Brazilian Health Leaders Visit Oxford
10 December 2025
Professor Tim Elliott and colleagues from Oxford Cancer and the Centre for Immuno-Oncology welcomed the Brazilian Minister of Health and senior officials for an official visit organised by the British Embassy in Brazil. The delegation met to exchange insights on cancer research, regulation, and public health, with discussions focusing on prevention, early diagnosis, and innovative treatments such as mRNA vaccines and immunotherapy.
Dr Ignacio Melero recognised for global contribution to advances in cancer immunotherapy
10 November 2025
The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) has honoured Dr Ignacio (Nacho) Melero, Professor of Immunotherapy at NDM's Centre for Immuno-Oncology at Oxford, for his pioneering research transforming cancer treatment through immunotherapy.
CIO and Dunn School Join Forces to Pioneer Vaccines Against Childhood Cancers
9 October 2025
A new partnership between Alice’s Arc, the Centre for Immuno-Oncology in the Nuffield Department of Medicine and the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology will pioneer the development of a bespoke mRNA vaccine to improve treatment outcomes for children with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of soft tissue cancer.
Latest publications
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Association of PD-1, LAG-3 and TIM-3 expression on intratumoral CD8 T-cells with response to atezolizumab in a Real-World-Evidence biomarker study for advanced urothelial carcinoma patients.
Journal article
de Andrea CE. et al, (2025), Oncoimmunology, 14
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The long-lasting expression of recombinant artLCMV following intraperitoneal administration exerts potent antitumor effects on tumor models of peritoneal carcinomatosis.
Journal article
Gomar C. et al, (2025), Oncoimmunology, 14
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Dimension reduction in quantum sampling of stochastic processes
Journal article
Yang C. et al, (2025), npj Quantum Information, 11
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Genome-wide association and gene-virus interaction study of liver disease in hepatitis C virus-infected patients
Preprint
Quistrebert J. et al, (2025)
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Targeting MHC-E as a new strategy for vaccines and immunotherapeutics
Journal article
Frueh K. et al, (2025), Nature Reviews Immunology
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Nanotechnology for immuno-oncology.
Journal article
Grippin AJ. et al, (2025), Nature cancer
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Adsorption of antigen to polymeric nanoparticles enhances cytotoxic T-cell responses and anti-tumor immunity by targeting conventional type 1 dendritic cells.
Journal article
Huete-Carrasco J. et al, (2025), Immunology and cell biology
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T cell engagers: expanding horizons in oncology and beyond.
Journal article
Albayrak G. et al, (2025), Br J Cancer
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Atom-level mechanism of tapasin-independent peptide editing by Major Histocompatibility Complex class I molecules
Preprint
Turner S. et al, (2025)
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Strict advantage of complex quantum theory in a communication task
Journal article
Elliott TJ., (2025), Physical Review A, 111
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Antigen-presenting mast cells are new players in breast cancer immunotherapy.
Journal article
Luri-Rey C. et al, (2025), Nature medicine
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In vivo labelling resolves distinct temporal, spatial, and functional properties of tumour macrophages, and identifies subset-specific effects of PD-L1 blockade.
Journal article
Lee CY. et al, (2025), Cancer immunology research
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Dual ENPP1/ATM depletion blunts DNA damage repair boosting radioimmune efficacy to abrogate triple-negative breast cancer.
Journal article
Ruiz-Fernández de Córdoba B. et al, (2025), Signal transduction and targeted therapy, 10
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Phase II study of perioperative Avelumab plus chemotherapy for patients with resectable gastric cancer or gastroesophageal junction cancer - the MONEO Study.
Journal article
Alsina M. et al, (2025), Clin Cancer Res
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Supplemental Figure 2 from Dynamic Tracking of Tumor Microenvironment Modulation Using Kaede Photoconvertible Transgenic Mice Unveils New Biological Properties of Viral Immunotherapy
Other
Diers AR. et al, (2025)
What's new for Oxford Cancer
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Oxford researchers win first and second place in MRC's 2025 Festive Science Image Competition.
19 December 2025
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The Translational Histopathology Laboratory achieves Good Clinical Laboratory Practice accreditation.
18 December 2025
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Kendra Perez-Smith receives Outstanding Contribution to Sustainability Award
18 December 2025
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Oxford-built multi-agent assistant for cancer care to be piloted in collaboration with Microsoft
16 December 2025
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Is now the time to rethink risk thresholds in cancer referral guidelines?
9 December 2025
Oxford Talks
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Monday, 22 December 2025, 12.15pm to 1.05pm
Speakers: Mark Coles, Simon Davis, Joan Gannon, Sally Sheard
Venue: Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Headington OX3 7BN
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Tuesday, 23 December 2025, 2pm to 3pm
Speakers: Shen Wenqin
Venue: 15 Norham Gardens, 15 Norham Gardens OX2 6PY
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Tuesday, 06 January 2026, 11am to 12pm
Speakers: Prof Henry Heng
Venue: NDM Building, Headington OX3 7FZ
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Tuesday, 06 January 2026, 1pm to 2pm
Venue: Wolfson Building
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Wednesday, 07 January 2026, 12.30pm to 1.30pm
Speakers: Dr Paolo Piazza, James Bancroft, Dr Phalguni Rath
Venue: Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Headington OX3 7BN