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 Tumour cells survive in a microenvironment in which conditions are distinct from those found in normal tissues.  Major differences include low oxygen concentrations (hypoxia) and acidosis, both of which effect chemotherapy and radiotherapy outcomes in cancer treatment.  Present research is focussed on several  areas; the effects of hypoxia and acidosis on cancer cell survival, inhibiting the adaptive mechanisms that allow cancer cells to survive in these areas, and the use and development of better tumour models which mimic these conditions and allow a more physiological testing bed for new therapeutics.  These models include 3D culture methods that replicate changes in oxygen tension and pH throughout an avascular tumour using spheroids and the use of human biopsy explants (containing the stromal elements that are also involved in tumour growth and progression), to examine novel agents and radiation.  Research is currently funded by the METOXIA Consortium, which encompasses research collaborations with 22 centres across Europe, and also by the IMPACT group at Edinburgh University, which involves collaboration across several disciplines to produce a sensor to accurately monitor changes in oxygen tensions and pH in solid tumours to maximise the beneficial effects of radiotherapy.