News releases
CHARITIES TEAM UP TO BUY EQUIPMENT FOR CANCER RESEARCHERS
10 December 2008
Two charities have teamed up with the University of Liverpool in a unique three-way deal to provide scientists with cutting-edge technology helping to crack the basic causes of cancer.
Researchers working in the fields of Cancer Studies and Biomedical Sciences needed a mass spectrometer � an instrument used to analyse cells, tissues and body fluids �� to help keep them better understand the role played by specific proteins in how the disease develops.
Professor Francis Barr, the North West Cancer Research Fund Chair of Oncology at the University, along with Professor Michael Clague and Drs Sylvie Urbe, Stephen Royle, Ulrike Gruneberg and Ian Prior, applied for funding of �375,000 to buy the equipment.�
The cost has been spread between the University itself, which put up �70,000, the North West Cancer Research Fund, which contributed �80,000, and Cancer Research UK, which gave �225,000.
Prof. Barr welcomes the opportunities the new equipment presents.
He said: �The mass spectrometer gives us a much greater overview of cell structures and proteins within cells.
�It will allow us to service a variety of projects linked to cancer � how cell structures change and how they could be corrected.
�This is key research work at the first discovery stage. Among other things, we are aiming to establish future targets for effective drug therapies.�
Prof. Barr joined the University last year from the Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Munich. The research team at the University of Liverpool have achieved a world-wide reputation for the excellence of their work.
Prof. John Caldwell, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, said: �The University already plays a leading role, with its partners in the health service and charities including the NWCRF and CR:UK, in addressing cancer.
�It is a major health problem for the population of Merseyside and the UK as a whole. In helping to provide our researchers with this mass spectrometer, supporters of the North West Cancer Research Fund can be certain it is money well spent.
�It will greatly assist in projects to increase our understanding of how the disease works, how we can better target therapies, and how future treatments can be developed.�
Anne Jackson, Chief Executive of the North West Cancer Research Fund, said: �We are always delighted to help the excellent work done by Professor Barr and the team at the University.
�This is an exciting approach for us, working closely with a national charity like CR:UK to help fund this equipment. It shows what teamwork can achieve.�
The NWCRF was founded in 1948, initially as the Friends of the Radium Institute, to provide financial support to scientists researching cancer.
Since then it has given more than �28 million to assist the work carried out in three research centres, in Liverpool, Lancaster University and at Bangor University in North Wales.�
By keeping overheads and administration charges to an absolute minimum, the NWCRF is able to give almost 90 pence in every pound raised directly to support research.
If you have helped to collect money for The North West Cancer Research Fund, don't forget to tell us all about how you raised the money so we can publicise your efforts.