Breast cancer research funding for Nottingham

Press release 14 April 2010 Media Contact: Claire Learner, Media Relations Officer, Breast Cancer Campaign, 020 7749 3705 email: clearner@breastcancercampaign.org Breast cancer research funding for Nottingham Breast Cancer Campaign has awarded a pilot grant worth £20,000 to Professor Sue Watson at The University of Nottingham. The grant, which forms part of £5 million awarded by Breast Cancer Campaign in 2009, will allow Professor Watson to study cell changes which are involved in breast cancer spread to other parts of the body. Research has shown that when breast cancer cells undergo a series of changes to their make-up in a process called EMT (epithelial mesenchymal transition), it alters their ability to move and spread. With this pilot grant Professor Watson will produce specialised cells in the laboratory that glow when they undergo EMT. This will give her a simple way to study this process and more importantly assess new drugs that could stop it from happening. Professor Watson said, “I am very grateful for this pilot grant from Breast Cancer Campaign which I hope will provide valuable information about the role of EMT in breast cancer.” Arlene Wilkie, Director of Research and Policy, Breast Cancer Campaign said, “Despite clinical advances in breast cancer, around 12,000 people in the UK die from this disease each year. If we can find a way to stop breast cancer cells from spreading it will help increase the chances of survival for many women in the future.” Ends Notes to editors • Breast Cancer Campaign aims to beat breast cancer by funding innovative world-class research to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure • Currently it supports 114 research projects, worth over £17.1 million, in 40 centres of excellence across the UK and Ireland • 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, nearly 46,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year - that’s 125 a day • Visit www.breastcancercampaign.org • Read Chief Executive Pamela Goldberg’s blog http://pamelagoldbergblog.blogspot.com/