 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
28 June 2000
Double success for tumour mathematicians Photo available electronically from press office
Mathematicians at the University of Dundee are celebrating a simultaneous equation of success with national recognition from separate learned bodies for two of their number involved in the mathematical modelling of tumour growth.
Dr Mark Chaplain is named by the major learned society for mathematics in the UK, the London Mathematical Society, for one of this year's Whitehead Prizes - a prestigious award for under 40s - while his colleague Dr Alexander Anderson has been awarded one of only two personal research fellowships by Scotland's foremost learned society, the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
Both men are engaged in the burgeoning area of biomathematics which brings mathematical formulae and number crunching techniques to bear on medical problems such as the growth of cancerous tumours. Their research could help answer questions such as
- How much margin should a surgeon allow when cutting out a tumour?
- Under what conditions can the body's immune system eliminate a tumour?
- What is the best chemotherapy drug scheduling for a given tumour?
Biomathematics is at the heart of the recently established £1 million SIMBIOS centre in Dundee, a joint venture with the University of Abertay.
Over 13 years Dr Chaplain has developed novel modelling techniques to investigate the key stages of tumour biology resulting in important insights on how different biochemical and mechanical processes interact. His research establishes a framework in which clinical treatments can be tested and has brought him international recognition amongst the mathematical biology community.
Most recently he and Dr Anderson have developed models to study the invasive process by which individual tumour cells break off the main tumour mass and the process by which a tumour develops its own blood supply - angiogenesis. This allows the tumour to survive and grow, letting nodules enter the body's circulation system to invade vital organs where they form, often fatal, secondary tumours.
Dr Chaplain: "By using our work to develop a three dimensional model of angiogenesis into which we are currently incorporating blood flow, we will be able to make predictions on how best to target tumours via blood-borne drugs. The results could lead to a massive advance in the treatment and control of malignant cancers."
The process of angiogenesis is also important in areas such as wound healing - another field in which the University of Dundee is at the forefront.
Dr Anderson, who could take his personal fellowship to any Scottish university, has chosen to stay in Dundee with its international reputation for cancer research and mathematical biology.
Said Dr Chaplain: "To receive one award is a great honour for our work but to receive two is more than twice the boost!" /ends
Contact Dr Mark Chaplain 01382 345369 chaplain@maths.dundee.ac.uk
Dr Sandy Anderson 01382 344462 sanderso@maths.dundee.ac.ukPhoto of Dr Mark Chaplain (left) and Dr Sandy Anderson (right)
