Apparently, we’ve now had three “heat-waves” so far this summer, depending whereabouts in the UK you live, because the definition of a “heat-wave” varies from region to region! None-the-less, it’s a lot better than grey skies and wet weather and let’s face it, the sunshine makes us all a lot happier.
So what have we been doing lately?
Our website is undergoing a much needed, long overdue re-write and we’re hopeful that the brand new edition will go live in the next few months. We’ll let you know when it’s live. Watch this space!
At City, St George’s University of London, (St George’s University of London has merged with City University and this is their new name), our research team has continued to delve into ways to fight pancreatic cancer. Their dedication is unquestionable.
Here’s the latest report from Androulla Elia, our research leader.
“To all our Newsletter readers, many thanks for supporting our research!
The focus of our current project on novel therapeutics that potentially target pancreatic cancer cells is being undertaken by PhD student Jack Lawrence. With funds that you have raised, numerous milestones have now been reached.
Since out last update we continue to characterise the response of pancreatic cancer cells to these novel treatments. As Jack now embarks on his final year on the studentship, his focus is on investigating several combination treatments and how they affect pancreatic cancer cell movement, viability and survival. This is particularly important when we consider the process of metastasis in which cancer cells can move from a primary site and spread into other organs and tissues.
Our team may be small, but thanks to your generous support, we’re making real strides. Your donations allow us to focus on cutting-edge research while mentoring the next generation—like Jack, a young researcher whose promising work will be shared in multiple scientific publications. This will open the doors to wider collaboration and crucial industry partnerships. This is how research turns into real-world impact—better treatments, better outcomes, and lives changed for the better.
But we can’t do it alone. To keep this momentum going, Jack needs your continued support. Every contribution helps fuel the research, the innovation, and the hope.
Androulla and Jack in the Lab. Together, we can turn early discoveries into life-saving advances. Will you help us take the next step?
Androulla and Jack”.
It’s difficult for Androulla and Jack to explain more about their research as their activities and research results are commercially sensitive and established protocols have to be followed before publication. As we’ve said, their dedication is unquestionable and one day, it will hopefully pay off.
In a recent article in the Daily Telegraph, it was reported “that the NHS is carrying out a pilot involving 300 GP practices in England, to try to identify from a patient’s records, whether or not they might have developed pancreatic cancer before symptoms emerge. Only patients over 60 years old are involved. Where the possibility of pancreatic cancer is identified, the patient will be offered urgent blood tests and scans”.
Good news and hopefully the hard work involved will produce results.
As Androulla has mentioned in her update above, we need to continue the momentum which has been built up so that our research continues to bear fruit. Jack is coming to the end of his PhD studentship next year and to maintain continuity we need to retain him. Research costs are extremely expensive and we’re very lucky to have Androula in charge as she makes sure every penny is spent wisely. Our set-up at City, St George’s is small but efficient and we pride ourselves on making sure some 95% of all donations received are dedicated to research costs, the rest being absorbed by unavoidable fund-raising and administration costs. None of our Trustees has ever been remunerated or claimed expenses.
We can’t deny that raising funds is tough these days for smaller charities like ours and from media comment, things aren’t likely to get better in the foreseeable future. We’ll happily accept any donation of any value and even £2 a month plus Gift Aid adds up to £30 a year and makes a difference.
We value all donations and each one will be gratefully received and acknowledged.
