Press Releases
Hope Foundation Announce Major Cancer Research Funding
Wednesday July 26th 2006
The Hope Foundation for Cancer Research has awarded a grant to fund research that could help develop new therapies and treatments for bowel cancer. With this award, Professor Margaret Manson, Dr. Elena Moiseeva and Mr. David Berry of the University of Leicester Cancer Biomarkers and Prevention Group and Leicester General Hospital will supervise a project that could have very important results for patients with some forms of bowel cancer.
The project, which will be undertaken by an individual appointed after national advertising, aims to investigate the potential of indole-3-carbinol for treating metastatic colon cancer. Indole-3-carbinol is found in cruciferous vegetables, which include cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and brussels sprouts. This substance, which is known to have cancer preventing effects, will be tested against cancerous cells both alone and in combination with other drugs. If successful, this could lead to the development of more effective and safer treatment of bowel cancer.
Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer related death in the UK. Its mortality rate has remained at roughly the same level for the past 40 years. This research could help to provide the breakthrough that is needed.
Dr. Elena Moiseeva, a research fellow at the university, said: “We believe that non-traditional alternative approaches are required to combat cancer. We work on dietary agents, which cause tumour cells to die at doses that spare healthy cells. There is an increasing evidence for a role for dietary agents in cancer prevention and in decreasing unwanted side effects of existing chemotherapies. We are most grateful to the Hope Foundation for their support of our work.“
The Hope Foundation for Cancer Research was established to provide funding for cancer research projects in Leicestershire and Rutland in order to enable local people to benefit from innovative treatments.
In addition to this new clinical research fellowship, the Hope Foundation currently funds two PhD research posts and one other clinical fellowship. They have also awarded three Allison Wilson fellowships, which are single payments to cover lab or equipment costs.
To make a donation or to offer your time, contact The Hope Foundation at The Hope Office, 5 Castle View, Leicester, LE1 5WH, call them on 0116 262 2020, or visit www.hfcr.org. Donations can also be made via the Just Giving website www.justgiving.co.uk
