Our 2020 research highlights
For anyone working in the field of research 2020 has been a challenge, whether striving to find a vaccine for Covid-19 or simply keeping carrying on with cancer treatment. This is why your ongoing support has been so valuable. Thank you.
Our Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange, Professor Dame Jessica Corner gives her thanks and provides an insight into how the year has been below and then you can read how your generous donations have been put to use during the year.
Continuing the fight with breast cancer
Although 2020 has been difficult, our dedicated researchers at the Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre (NBCRC) have been determined to remain focussed on its core research areas – stopping the spread of cancer, treating it right and detecting it early.
Likewise we are incredibly grateful to supporters who went the extra mile to raise funds for the centre during lockdown by doing virtual runs and other activities.
From everyone at the Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre, we thank all of our supporters for their amazing generosity in providing donations to help us continue to conduct vital research into breast cancer.
Dr Andy Green, Deputy Director, Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre.
The three £10,000 pilot research projects which began in 2019 have been making great progress and we are delighted to share the news that a further three projects have been the beneficaries of grants this year too.
These new grants will further research into triple negative cancer, which is a particularly aggressive form, look into a new cancer-selective therapy and better understand the process of metastasis.
Although we haven't been able to hold in-person events this year, many of you have contributed virtually, raising hundreds of pounds for the centre. Thank you!
Helping tackle Covid-19 through research
In the spring our Covid-19 Emergency Appeal helped raise £50,000 to support students in need, but also the University's research into the virus.
Led by Professor Lindy Durrant, the main element of the research has been the production of a DNA vaccine, which if successful will not only help prevent Covid-19 but also provide protection from infection by other types of coronavirus in the future. Clinical trials began in the summer and since then we have selected a lead candidate - which stimulates strong antibody and T-cell responses against the spike and nucleocapsid protein - in preclinical models, which is currently in GMP manufacture.
A new era for the treatment of children's brain tumours
Just last month a £6.2 million state-of-the-art new facility was finally opened at the Queen's Medical Centre here in Nottingham. The installation and opening of an Intraoperative MRI (iMRI) facility has only been made possible by donor support as part of a fundraising collaboration between the Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre at the University of Nottingham, the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the Nottingham Hospitals Charity.
The facility, which began operating in mid-November, will transform the way in which brain tumours can be operated upon, which will mean better results for patients and consequentially fewer operations too.
Building on the traditions instilled by Sir Peter Mansfield here at Nottingham, who first discovered the potential of MRI back in the 1970s, this new facility will, with your continued support, allow us to progress new possibilities with our research in years to come.
Thank you again for all your support in 2020.
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