10 June 2008

Leading Experts To Speak at Dundee Cancer Research Conference

Leading cancer research experts Anne-Catherine Prats and Louis Buscail are the key speakers at this week's Dundee - Toulouse Cancer Research Alliance Conference, being held in the City of Discovery from 12 - 14 June.

Prats, Co-Director of the Institut de Médecine Moléculaire de Rangueil, Toulouse, will talk about her recent findings from work on the tumor suppressor p53 gene. Buscail, Professor of Gastroenterology at the Paul Sabatier University in Toulouse will discuss the potential of a new cell-based gene therapy for treating pancreatic and liver cancers.

The conference is aimed at encouraging collaboration between different areas of cancer research, enabling better knowledge-sharing and cross-sector cooperation. Around 250 delegates from around the world, including scientists, doctors and clinicians from the public and private sectors, are expected to attend.

Dr Jean-Christophe Bourdon, University of Dundee explains: "Dundee is at the forefront of international cancer research, and is the ideal location to host this crucial event which we hope will strengthen the existing working relationship between the Toulouse Cancer Centre and the University of Dundee. It will bring together academics and scientists from both institutions with the aim to improve communication between researchers and ultimately increase the success of cancer diagnosis and treatment."

"In Europe, Cancer is one of the biggest threats facing an increasingly aging population, so advancing our understanding of the disease is one of the main concerns facing medical science. This conference will build on the opportunities that arose from last year’s event, and contribute significantly to establishing a global cancer research network where the latest developments in the fight against cancer can be shared effectively and efficiently."

Topics to be discussed over the 3 day conference include Cell Signalling, Clinical and Translational Research, Technology, Imaging and Drug Discovery. The first Dundee - Toulouse Cancer Research Alliance conference was held in Toulouse in 2006. Over 350 delegates attended the inaugural event which provided the basis for the establishment of joint PhD programmes and an exchange programme for scientists and clinicians between Dundee University and Toulouse University.

Dundee and Toulouse Universities are two of the institutes involved in an initiative by Inserm (Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale), the French equivalent of the British Medical Research Council. Through funding research on a worldwide basis, the purpose of the initiative is to create an international network of research centres. Dundee University has established an Inserm funded laboratory as part of this project. Other Inserm funded laboratories have been set up in Japan, South Korea, Shanghai, Heidelberg, University of Glasgow and University of Harvard.

Karen Tocher, of Dundee & Angus Convention Bureau comments: "Hosting this event is testament to the University of Dundee’s reputation in the field of cancer research, not only in the UK, but internationally. It is also a huge boost to the local economy given the vital contribution that business tourism provides. Continuing to attract conferences and events is central to maintain the development of the region as an appealing destination for business and leisure tourists."

For further information regarding the Dundee - Toulouse Cancer Research Alliance Conference visit www.dtcancerconference.org.

For more information about the Dundee & Angus Convention Bureau visit www.conventiondundeeandangus.co.uk or contact 01382 527531.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk