Two Cambridge scientists, Dr Christine Watson at the Department of Pathology and Dr Ruth Warren at the Department of Radiology, have received grants totalling almost £225,000 from Breast Cancer Campaign.
Two Cambridge scientists, Dr Christine Watson at the Department of Pathology and Dr Ruth Warren at the Department of Radiology, have received grants totalling almost £225,000 from Breast Cancer Campaign.
One of the scientists, Dr Christine Watson, has been granted a PhD studentship worth over £95,000, her second award from the Charity.
Dr Watson will study a group of molecules called ‘executioner caspases'. Their job is to kill damaged cells which could become cancerous. She will investigate the role of each of the executioner caspases in breast cells and whether losing any of them makes breast cancer more likely to develop.
Dr Watson said “It may be possible to develop new breast cancer treatments mimicking the action of caspases that will cause the breast cancer cells to die whilst leaving the healthy cells intact.”
Pamela Goldberg, Chief Executive Breast Cancer Campaign said “Thanks to real progress in breast cancer research during this time we have seen significant improvements in diagnosis, treatment and survival. Breast cancer research is saving lives and our mission is to beat breast cancer by funding world class research projects such as Dr Watson's to keep up the momentum of bringing us closer to a cure.”
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and accounts for nearly one in three of all cancers in women. In the UK, almost 44,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women each year - 120 a day.
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