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The Raman Nanotheranostics (RaNT) team are developing a new, all-in-one technology, capable of diagnosing and treating cancers using a single device.
We are pioneering a non-invasive technique that aims to reduce or completely remove the need for cancer surgery, providing rapid, pain-free detection and therapy, right at the patient bedside.
RaNT is a scientific research programme publicly funded by a £5.7 million grant awarded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), for an initial 5 year period (2018–2023).
The research programme is led by scientists at the University of Exeter — under the direction of Professor Nick Stone — in collaboration with laboratory teams at the University of Cambridge, the UCL School of Pharmacy / Nanomerics, and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Rutherford Appleton Labs.
Our research team comprises the director and 8 principle investigators, managing a team of 9 full-time research staff spread across the 4 institutions. 4 PhD students also contribute towards experimental and mathematical modelling work.
Away from the lab, a communities engagement manager is working to involve people with first-hand experience of the cancer treatment pathway. We are advised by a volunteer group of 7 highly experienced NHS front-line clinicians, and are currently recruiting people with experience of living with cancer to our public and patient involvement (PPI) group. This ensures that RaNT addresses the critical needs of future end-users through a programme of co-development.
A full-time programme manager coordinates all of these elements, and the whole programme is overseen by a 4-person independent advisory board — all volunteers representing key future stakeholders.
* team photos COMING SOON
Our clinical collaborator group (CCG) is an expert panel with over 200 years combined experience in the field of cancer treatment.
Each member brings to RaNT an extensive knowledge of real-world clinical practise.
They provide vital advice on key application areas, and help guide our researchers towards practical solutions on the technology’s development pathway from bench-top to bedside.
Consultant Maxillofacial (Head & Neck) Surgeon
UCL Eastman Dental Institute
Professor of Interventional Oncology
UCL & UCLH
Consultant Oncoplastic (Breast) Surgeon
RD&E NHS Foundation Trust & Nuffield Health
Consultant Radiologist
Gloucester Hospitals & Cobalt Health
Consultant Urologist & Clinical Director for Acute Surgery
RD&E NHS Foundation Trust
Consultant Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon
RD&E NHS Foundation Trust
Consultant Pathologist
RD&E NHS Foundation Trust
Each member of our independent advisory board (IAB) represents a key future stakeholder group.
They keep strategic oversight of the RaNT programme, monitoring our performance on key deliverables, and ensure that the programme actively integrates the perspectives of all potential end-users.
Head of Discovery, Research & Research Careers
Cancer Research UK
Director of Science & Innovation
AstraZeneca
Clinical Director
Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow
Senior Researcher
The Netherlands Cancer Institute & Academic Medical Centre
RaNT is happy to be the research home to 4 fantastic PhD students. These early career researchers are contributing their invaluable experimental and mathematical modelling skills to the project throughout the course of their training — our doctoral students are funded separately to the £5.7 million EPSRC programme grant.
We are also proud to acknowledge the first-class contributions of all of the team members that have moved on to the next big stage of their careers.
