Kitty Cameron scholar completes PhD

Susie Camus, whose PhD was funded by the Kitty Cameron Memorial Fund, has just completed her PhD and discovered a new pathway for the degradation of p53 which will lead to new drug targets for cancer.

The parents of Kitty Cameron, the Edinburgh University student who died of a brain tumour, decided to raise money to help fund the world class cancer research taking place under Professor Sir David Lane and Dr Sonia Lain in the University’s Medical School.

When he received the generous offer of a funded PhD place from the Camerons, David Lane identified Susie Camus who was looking at ways of activating the tumour suppressor protein without using DNA damaging chemotherapy.

Kitty Cameron died in April 2001 aged twenty. Kitty's tumour had reappeared after undergoing radiotherapy the previous year.

Susie, who is continuing her research with David Lane said, "I feel I can use my research to help people in Kitty’s situation. It is marvellous that Kitty's parents channelled their energies into raising money for research which works to prevent tragic deaths from cancer."

The Kitty Cameron Memorial Fund has raised a total of £61,000 to date. The Camerons hope to raise more money through trust funds in order to support another PhD student.