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25 May 2004
Nexxus, the West of Scotland Bioscience Network will hold the second event of the Horizons in Biomedicine Series today at the Glasgow Science Centre.
The Nexxt Big Thing in Cancer will be chaired by Professor John Coggins, Dean of the Faculty of Biomedical and Life Sciences at the University of Glasgow and will include short presentations from four experts in cancer research. Each speaker will project forward, predicting where their field is going, and the contribution that this research could make to diagnosis and treatment of cancer over the next ten years. This will be followed by a panel discussion, where the audience will have the opportunity to ask the experts anything about future advances in the cancer field.
This horizon-scanning event will open with Professor Margaret Frame, Depute Director of the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, and Honorary Professor at the Faculty of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow. Professor Frame is a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and won the Tenovus Medal in 1999 for her work on the Src oncoprotein. Her research group discovered that a key protein molecule called Src, helps loosen the structure of tissues surrounding a tumour, opening a way for cells to spread around the body. The discovery at Glasgows Beatson Institute could lead to new drugs that block this action and prevent cancer spreading. Src was the first ever molecule to be implicated in the development of cancer, in particular bowel cancer. Her presentation entitled Cancer research: from humble beginnings to new agents will give an insight into new developments in cancer research and how that will impact in the future.
Professor Jim Cassidy, Professor of Oncology and Head of the Cancer Research UK Department of Medical Oncology at the University of Glasgow, will follow, exploring Future revolutions in cancer care. Professor Cassidys research interests bridge four main areas: new drug development; colorectal cancer; molecular aspects of cytotoxic action; and drug delivery systems in cancer. Professor Cassidy aims to expand theses translational research areas and further strengthen Glasgow as international centre of excellence for clinical trials, bringing faster patient benefits to the people of the West of Scotland and worldwide.
Dr Tessa Holyoake, Reader in Academic Transfusion Medicine and Honorary Consultant in Haematology Academic Transfusion Medicine Unit, has been working in the haematology field since 1992. A significant past contribution has included the demonstration that stem cells expansion and re-infusion can be safely performed. Dr Holyoake will explore The Future for leukemia
The final speaker, Dr George Blackledge, President of Clinical Oncology, AstraZeneca will explore the cancer pipeline in the pharmaceutical industry and future therapeutics. Dr Blackledge has led the development and commercialisation of AstraZenecas current oncology compounds and agents in other therapy areas.
This event highlights the breadth and depth of research capability in the cancer field in the West of Scotland. Gillian Cay, Manager of Nexxus said: This event comes at an exciting time for cancer research in the West of Scotland with recent announcements about the new state-of-the-art research facilities for the Beatson Institute due to open in 2006 and the new Beatson Oncology Centre due to open in 2007.
A multimedia cd-rom entitled the West of Scotland Cancer Collaboration, was launched last month to highlight these developments which will place Glasgow at the cutting edge of international oncology practice and research. For further information about cancer research capabilities in the West of Scotland, please see nexxusscotland.com/research/cancer.html
The next event in the Horizons in Biomedicine Series, on 5 October 2004, will focus on Neuroscience.
Nexxus is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the Scottish Enterprise Network, the University of Glasgow and Glasgow City Council. For further information on Nexxus, please contact Gillian Cay, Manager, Nexxus on
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