Scientists from Dundee have won a share of a £3 million fund from the Association for International Cancer Research (AICR), that funds investigations into new treatments and possible cures for the disease that hits one in three people in the UK.
Dundee University's Professor John Hayes, Dr Dario Alessi, Dr David Meek and Dr Emma Warbrick have all been awarded grants for their studies into cancer. Having such a large number of scientists from one university receiving grants highlights the contribution of Dundee as a world centre of excellence for research into cancer.
Professor Hayes will be using his £135,000 grant award to develop a system to test the natural defence mechanisms used by cells when they are being attacked by cancer causing chemicals. He is aiming to use the defence system genes to understand the full range of natural defences against cancer causing chemicals. Dr Alessi's £112,000 grant package will allow him to investigate the function of a recently identified protein called LKB1 that is mutated in an inherited cancer syndrome called Peutz Jeghers Syndrome
£115,425 has been awarded to Dr Meek for his investigation into the role that a protein called MDM2 plays in a cell's ability to commit suicide. Losing this ability is a common hallmark of cancer cells. Dr Warbrick's award of £138,000 will allow her to investigate the role of a protein called PCNA, which co-ordinates duplicating and repairing DNA with the cell cycle. Breakdown of this co-ordination results genetic defects, which can lead to the formation of tumours.
The Scottish based charity will make 28 new grant awards in April, totalling over £3 million. Research groups from Dundee to Queensland, Australia now have grants for projects that look at developing possible cures for cancer.
In total, cancer research teams around the world will receive more than £6 million from the charity in 2001. Since 1984 AICR has granted nearly £50m to scientists in the fight against cancer.
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For further information please contact Sue Campbell or Anne Kernahan at Citigate SMARTS on 0131 555 0425.
Or Carol Pope, Press Officer University 01382 344021 press@dundee.ac.uk