News releases
New cancer research in Liverpool
03 March 2004
Liverpool based charity, The North West Cancer Research Fund, has announced funding for three new research projects worth �406,743.
One is a completely new project and this is indicative of a key role for this regional cancer research charity in that it allows fresh work, potentially the platform on which major breakthroughs will be made, to be started. The other projects build on research previously funded by the charity which has given insight into important mechanisms by which cancer develops.
All of the projects are for three years and will take place at The University of Liverpool.
For a new and unique piece of research, Professor Stephen Edwards and his team in the School of Biological Sciences have received �125,475. The cells in our bodies have a normal life cycle and Professor Edwards' work will investigate the disruption of this life cycle in cancer. The research will be carried out in a world class facility for cell imaging that was opened in The University's Bio-sciences Centre in August 2003. The work will focus on cancers of the colon and brain.
Professor John Caldwell, Chairman of the North West Cancer Research Fund's Scientific Committee, said, 'These novel approaches being used by Professor Edwards and his team will provide new insight into why the treatment of cancer using drugs is only partially successful. Knowing why many cancers are resistant to drugs will help in the search for new means of treating key diseases.'
Also in the School of Biological Sciences, Dr Roger Barraclough leads a group examining the spread of tumours. An important feature of many cancers is the production of secondary tumours in parts of the body other than the original site. Previous work by Dr Barraclough funded by the charity has given greater understanding into the spread of breast tumours into many organs. Through his new research, Dr Barraclough aims to provide new test systems to develop drugs to prevent the spread of cancer by blocking the formation of secondary tumours. The award is for �142,824.
At the Department of Surgery, Dr Mark Boyd, Director of Laboratories, has already developed an important model of the way in which cancer cells proliferate abnormally. His new award of �138,444 will study a mechanism which is likely to operate in cancers in various parts of the body.
The North West Cancer Research Fund makes between �750,000 and �1 million available every year for fundamental research into the causes of cancer. Virtually all of this money is raised through voluntary efforts and donations and all of the money is raised by local people and spent on local research. Throughout its 56 year history, over 90p in every � raised has consistently been spent directly on research. The Fund has 40 voluntary committees across the region, all are run by volunteers many of whom have been touched by cancer.
There are normally 30 projects underway at any time into many types of cancer.
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.