REPORT - Piotr Darski - BACR/AstraZeneca student travel grant

08 Jan 2026

The 65th Anniversary Meeting of the British Association for Cancer Research (BACR) was a
fantastic experience and a real highlight of my PhD so far. It brought together scientists from
across the UK and beyond, all working at the cutting edge of cancer research. The programme
covered a wide range of topics—from cancer evolution and tumour microenvironments to
breakthroughs in early detection and new therapeutic strategies. There was a strong focus on
treatment of resistance and how understanding tumour biology at a deeper level can lead to
more effective, personalised therapies.
I had the opportunity to present a poster on my project, which investigates acquired radiation
resistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Sharing my work with other researchers
in the field was really valuable. I had some great conversations with early-career, senior
scientists, and journal editors, and the feedback I received has given me new ideas for how I
might explore plasticity and regulatory mechanisms in resistant tumour cells.
One of the most impactful talks for me was given by Professor René Bernards. His presentation
on rational combination therapies in cancer was both exciting and deeply informative. He
discussed novel strategies for identifying effective drug combinations that can overcome
resistance and reduce the likelihood of relapse. His team’s approach—using functional
genomics to uncover vulnerabilities in cancer cells—really resonated with the goals of my own
research. It was inspiring to see how foundational lab work can be translated into real
therapeutic advances with clinical relevance.
I'm very grateful to the BACR and AstraZeneca for awarding me a travel grant to attend this
meeting. It was an incredibly valuable experience, both scientifically and personally, and I’ve
returned with new insights, fresh motivation, and connections that I hope will continue to grow
throughout my career

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