Liver cancer is a rapidly rising global health challenge, characterised by poor prognosis and limited treatment options. The majority of patients are diagnosed at advanced, inoperable stages, by which time curative interventions are no longer feasible. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, currently the most promising class of systemic therapies, offer only modest survival benefits, with median overall survival remaining below two years. These limitations highlight the urgent need for deeper mechanistic insights into the drivers of tumour progression and resistance to immunotherapy within the unique hepatic tumour microenvironment.

This research theme brings together hepatologists, oncologists, and translational scientists in a unified effort to address the fundamental biological mechanisms underpinning liver cancer development, progression, and therapeutic failure. A central focus lies in immuno-oncology, including the comprehensive characterisation of the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment, elucidation of immune evasion pathways, and investigation of metabolic reprogramming that supports immune escape, particularly in the setting of chronic liver inflammation and fibrosis.

Strategic research priorities include the development of novel biomarker discovery platforms for early detection and patient stratification, the optimisation of immunotherapy combination regimens to overcome resistance mechanisms, and the implementation of precision medicine approaches. These efforts are underpinned by integrated genomic, transcriptomic, and immunological profiling to better define actionable targets and therapeutic vulnerabilities.

The programme will actively pursue multidisciplinary, high-impact grant applications, foster strategic partnerships with leading biotechnology and immunotherapy companies, and strengthen international research networks to accelerate translational progress. Through integrated mechanistic studies, innovative clinical trials, and a strong translational pipeline, this theme aims to drive the development of breakthrough therapies that transform the clinical outlook for liver cancer patients and contribute meaningfully to reducing global cancer mortality.