Research in the quest to find a cure at one of our Centres of Excellence has been making headlines this week.
More than 300 pieces of coverage reaching millions of people across the UK put the breakthrough work firmly in the spotlight, including widespread radio reporting and articles on Mail Online, The Independent, The Standard and Yahoo.
Scientists at the Brain Tumour Research Centre at the University of Plymouth have been gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms which turn a healthy cell into a tumour cell with the unlikely help of the humble fruit fly.
This will further our understanding of glioma tumours, which include low and high-grade types, with glioblastoma (GBM) being the most commonly-diagnosed high-grade brain tumour in adults.
The research is big news because it could help improve patient outcomes for people like father-of-two and Supporter Ambassador, Sam Suriakumar (pictured below with his family), who was diagnosed with a low-grade glioma in February 2020.
The 38-year-old’s tumour was being monitored on a ‘watch and wait’ approach until a scan last July showed it had grown. He is now undergoing chemotherapy, having already had surgery and radiotherapy.
Sam said: “It’s amazing to think that something as little as a fruit fly could help improve our understanding of tumours like mine and how best to treat them. It’s really exciting news and serves as an important reminder of the need for greater investment in research to help get us to our goal of finding a cure sooner.”
To help fund research like this, bring hope to families, and stop brain tumours devastating lives, make a donation. Every little makes a big difference.
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