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Edinburgh Cancer Research UK Centre
Cancer Community
Update
August 2011
Issue 2
Welcome to the Edinburgh Cancer Community Update. This newsletter is
designed to keep you informed of local research news, engagement activities and
news from the wider cancer community in Edinburgh and Lothian. To comment or
contribute please contact Local Engagement and Development (LEAD) Manager,
Dawn Ewing on 0131 777 3525 or 07795 290 122 or email
[email protected]
Prizes and Awards
The Edinburgh Centre is
Centre
delighted that two of its
Professors
have recently
News
r e c e i ve d
prestigious
awards. Professor Adrian
Bird, Director of the University of Edinburgh Wellcome Trust
Centre for Cell Biology and Cancer Research
UK‟s Trustee and Chair of the Council Research
Strategy Committee has been awarded the 2011
Canada Gairdner International Award. While
Professor Margaret Frame, Science Director of
the Edinburgh Cancer Research UK Centre has
been elected as a Fellow of the Academy of
Medical Sciences.
New Cancer Research UK grants
Congratulations to Dr Albert Tenesa and team
who have recently been awarded
funding from the Biological Sciences Committee. Their research
will analyse genetic models using
statistical techniques in order to
predict cancer risk. Their aim is to
understand how genetic variation
and environmental factors impact on an individual‟s risk of developing cancer.
Congratulations also to Dr Val
Brunton and team who have received funding from the Drug Development Office at Cancer Research UK. Their research aims to
identify the optimal drug combinations and response for the drug
AZD0424 in a Phase 1 clinical trial.
Career Development Fellowships
Cancer Research UK has recently awarded
prestigious grants to ten exceptional researchers
from across the country, including two scientists
based in Edinburgh. This funding will help to develop their careers and to aid exciting discoveries that will help more people beat cancer than
ever before.
Congratulations to Dr Simon
Wilkinson, who will be investigating how a cell‟s own machinery is used to promote tumour
growth and survival in lung cancer. This will provide new targets
for drugs that stop or prevent
cancer development.
Dr Julie Welburn, will be joining the Edinburgh Centre in
October at the Wellcome Trust
Centre for Cell Biology. She will
be researching how the genetic
material in our cells is correctly
transferred as the cells divide.
This will give clues as to how
the process goes wrong in
some cancers.
Fighting cancer in Edinburgh
A new leaflet about the Edinburgh
Cancer Research UK Centre is now
available in both hard copy and
electronic format. To request hard
copies, please contact Dawn Ewing.
Cancer in
local news
Women more
sensitive to tobacco
packaging
Women are more likely
to be influenced by tobacco packet design than
men according to new Cancer
Research UK funded research. Researchers from
Stirling University examined smokers‟ attitudes to
cigarette packaging and found that many of the
women thought the thin „perfume‟ packet was a
sign the cigarettes were less harmful. Nearly all
smokers associated coloured, plain packets - that
only had health warnings and no name, description
or tar or nicotine levels - with cigarette strength.
Red packs were seen as full strength, green as
menthol, and light blue and white thought to be low
or ultra low tar. The UK government is expected to
begin a public consultation on the future of tobacco
packaging in late 2011. More
Genetic tests for ovarian cancer
Researchers from Edinburgh University have been
working on genetic tests to help identify different
types of ovarian cancer.
Got a paper coming out?
Talk to the CR-UK Science Press Team
More than 70% of the British public have the
opportunity to learn about Cancer Research
UK thanks to the work the charity does with
the media. Coverage spans across TV, radio, newspapers and magazines and it is a
vital way of telling our supporters that their
money is leading to important advances in
beating cancer.
If your work has been funded by the charity
and you have a manuscript that has been
accepted by or submitted to a journal,
please contact the Cancer Research UK
Press Office on [email protected]
or 020 3469 8300.
All information submitted is kept strictly confidential until is it published. Any publicity
plans will be discussed and agreed with the
principal/chief investigator and embargoed
against publication of the paper.
Six different types of the disease can be identified
by their genes, and would allow doctors to diagnose the most aggressive tumours and tackle Urine test could hold the key to early cancer
diagnosis
them with specific drugs.
Cancers of the gut, stomach and pancreas could
Dr Charlie Gourley, of Edinburgh University, said: be detected much sooner with a simple urine test,
"This research shows that by conducting a de- new research suggests. Edinburgh University scitailed analysis of the genes of ovarian cancers, we entists have identified key proteins in the urine of
may be able to identify those patients who will re- patients with advanced cancers. The findings
spond well to new drug treatments. "This could could help the detection of these cancers in people
bring valuable improvements in survival rates." who have not yet started to show symptoms. More
More
Launch of new SESCRN website
The South East Cancer Research Network
Advanced radiotherapy equipment
The Western General in Edinburgh is one of five (SESCRN) covers Fife, Lothians, Borders and
hospitals in Scotland that will benefit from an up- Dumfries & Galloway Health Board areas, with a
grade to existing radiotherapy units. Advanced im- population of around 1.4 million. Its network of
age-guided RapidArc® intensity modulated radio- doctors, nurses and other health care professiontherapy (IMRT) treatment enables treatments to be als supports research in this region by telling padelivered more precisely to the tumour than sys- tients about trials, offering support, arranging treattems without IMRT and reduces radiation to ments and tests and in some cases delivering
healthy tissue. RapidArc enables IMRT to be deliv- treatments. The new website provides staff and
ered in less than two minutes rather than the 15-20 patients with a comprehensive and searchable list
minutes needed for conventional IMRT treat- of all the cancer clinical trials within the region.
http://sescrn.org.uk/index.aspx
ments. More
Lab tours
In April the Edinburgh
Local
Cancer
Research
Centre invited patients
Engagement
and other interested
members of the public
to hear senior researchers talk about drug discovery (Dr Neil Carragher), clinical
research (Dr Charlie Gourley) and pain management (Prof Marie Fallon). The guests then had the
opportunity to visit the
labs and talk to our research nurses. The
event was a great success, with one guest
stating
"Fascinating
subject - gives great
hope for the future."
Scientists support Race for Life
CR-UK funded scientists
from Edinburgh, St Andrews and Stirling Universities have played a
vital role in communicating the importance of
cancer research to participants in Race for Life
this summer. Researchers and nurses attended
events in South Queensferry, Falkirk, Stirling, Edinburgh, Inverness
and
Kirkcaldy
where they talked
to the runners and
helped volunteers
to hand out medals
at the finish line. A
huge thank you to
all who participated.
Relay for Life
Thank you to Janyne Afseth, Senior Research
Nurse, and Dr Evropi Theodoratou from the Public
Health Studies Department for their support at the
recent Dalgety Bay Relay for Life event. Both ladies spoke to groups of supporters about their research and helped participants to understand that
their fundraising efforts are helping to beat cancer
by funding research locally.
For six days in April members of the public
were invited to Discover Science as part of
the Edinburgh International Science Festival. Thirteen researchers from the Edinburgh Cancer Research UK Centre participated in the event at the National Museum
of Scotland and collectively spoke to approximately 5000 adults and children.
Visitors had the opportunity to look at cancer cells
down the microscope,
build a cancer fighting protein jigsaw and make a
DNA helix out of jelly babies. Everyone had a great
time and learnt a little bit
about the groundbreaking
cancer research being carried out here in Edinburgh.
Scientists get on
their bikes
Fundraising
The roads of highland
Perthshire descend
news
from hills to lochs and
back up again with little
concern for the cyclists
taking part in the ETAPE
Caledonia, an 81 mile cycle
race starting in Pitlochry.
It was with some hesitation then that a group of
medical academics from Edinburgh University
signed up to compete. Professors Brian Walker
(British Heart Foundation Centre) and John Iredale joined colleagues from the Edinburgh Clinical Academic training programme including Paul
Brennan (Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre),
Mark Hughes and Roland Partridge. At 6.30am
on a cool, breezy and damp morning they assembled at the start line and it was just over four
hours before the first of the team returned home.
Everyone made it back safely having enjoyed the
delights of Loch Rannoch, Loch Tummel and the
Schiehallion ascent. The group has raised over
£1000 to be split between Cancer Research UK
and the BHF. The amount of money pledged after
the race is testament to the 'confidence' of colleagues and friends had that they would get
round in one piece. Thanks to everyone for their
support.
Where’s Wallace?
On his 30th birthday, CR-UK supporter Matt Wallace will start his 6 month „Where‟s Wallace‟ walk
from John O‟Groats to Lands End via all of CRUK‟s Centres. He will be with us in Edinburgh
some time in October and is eager to meet as
many scientists as possible.
Watch out for further details.
Students
walk to beat
cancer
Thank you
to Dr Jean
O‟Donoghue
who gave a
short presentation at
the Forrester
High School assembly to thank the staff and students for their fundraising efforts and tell them
about her research. The students had raised
£8257 for Cancer Research UK by taking part in a
sponsored walk last year.
Dedication to the cause
Five Cancer Research UK researchers swapped their
lab coats for running
shoes on 19 June
and took part in the
Edinburgh Race for
Life.
Dr Alison Hulme,
S a ra h
T ho m a s,
Helen Niblock and
Heather
Johnston
from the EaSTCHEM Medicinal Chemistry Department joined 2,500 women to take part in the 10K
event at Holyrood Park.
CR-UK PhD student Elisa Wong
then joined over 4,000 women from
across the city in the 5K event.
SHINE is Cancer Research UK‟s night-time
walking marathon. In 2011 the event is coming to
Scotland and will take place in Glasgow on
Saturday 10 September.
For more information visit
http://shine.cancerresearchuk.org
She said: “The day was great fun—
it is such an inspiring event!”
Thank you to all of the ladies for
taking part.
Public
attitudes to
science
2011
Public Attitudes to
Science
(PAS)
2011 is the fourth
in a series of studies looking at the UK
public‟s attitudes to
science, scientists and
science policy. It provides
evidence that the UK public values science and is interested in finding out about
it—79% agree that, “on the whole, science
will make our lives easier” and over half
agree that “the benefits of science are
greater than any harmful effect”.
Key dates for your diary 2011
= Researcher/ Scientist opportunity
Please contact Cancer Research UK LEAD
Manager, Dawn Ewing for details of how you can
get involved.
August 2011
25th
28th
Tbc
September 2011
12th
That is not to say people do not have concerns about science. Many are still concerned about what scientists choose to do
“behind closed doors”, and the extent to
which they consider the consequences of
their work. More generally, the speed of
development in science and a sense of
science going against nature still worry
many people.
The research also highlights the challenge
of public engagement with science. 56%
of people say they do not feel informed
about science, and scientific research and
developments. In addition, while many are
keen for the public to be involved in decision-making on science issues, most do
not want to be personally involved. More
Bright Club is an eclectic evening of stand up and storytelling where half-a-dozen researchers, from PhD students
to Professors, get together to
give short (hopefully!) funny
talks about their work.
Upcoming gigs:
Wednesday 24 August —SOLD OUT
Tuesday 20 September
Tickets available from http://
brightclubedinburgh.blogspot.com
Training will be provided, so if you are interested in taking part, contact
[email protected]
Lab tour for fundraisers
Standard Life 10K event 
Lab tour - Relay for Life Committee 
15-17th
30th
Lab tour for Scottish Parliament Cross
Party Group on Cancer 
Scottish Conference for Cancer
Support Groups
Volunteer Conference 
October 2011
20th
28th
28th
Tbc
Lab tour for Legacy supporters 
Retail fundraising dinner 
Heads of Biology Conference
Schools Day 
University public lectures/ events
12 Sept, Inaugural lecture—Shaken not stirred:
moving forward in managing breast diseases.
Professor Mike Dixon. More
29 Sept, Ovarian and breast cancer: new strategies to target the right treatment to the right patient. 6-8pm, Appleton Tower. Speakers: Professor David Cameron and Dr Charlie Gourley.
Host: Professor John Smyth.
5 Oct, Breakthrough Breast Cancer‟ annual
Changing Breast Cancer Conference. Speakers
include Professors David Cameron and Mike
Dixon. More
6 Oct, University Medical Detective Series—The
Curious Tale of the Undead: From Potatoes to
Cancer. Professor David Harrison. More
If you received this as a paper version or indirectly
and would like to receive it by email, please
forward your email address to:
[email protected]
Cancer Research UK is a registered
charity in England and Wales (1089464)
and in Scotland (SC041666).