News and Events
An international research team led by Queen’s University have developed a ground breaking treatment for Cystic Fibrosis sufferers. The new drug will benefit sufferers who have the ‘Celtic Gene’, a genetic mutation which is particularly common in Ireland.
The study, which was carried out by scientists at Queen’s University Belfast, the University of Ulster, the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and teams of researchers in Europe, USA and Australia found significant improvement in lung function, quality of life and a reduction in disease flare ups for those receiving the new treatment.
The drug (VX-770) is a significant breakthrough not only for those with the ‘Celtic Gene’, known as G551D, but also for all other Cystic Fibrosis sufferers as it indicates that the basic defect in Cystic Fibrosis can be treated. This is the first drug aimed at the basic defect in Cystic Fibrosis to show an effect. It is still too early to determine whether this treatment will improve life expectancy but the improvements in the breathing tests and the reduction in flare-ups would suggest survival will be better.
Stuart Elborn, Centre Director in the Centre for Infection and Immunity at Queen’s University and co-leader of the study said: “The development of this drug is significant because it is the first to show that treating the underlying cause of Cystic Fibrosis may have profound effects on the disease, even among people who have been living with it for decades. The remarkable reductions in sweat chloride observed in this study support the idea that VX-770 improves protein function thereby addressing the fundamental defect that leads to CF.”
Dr Judy Bradley, from the University of Ulster said: “This drug opens the defective channel in the lung cells of people with Cystic Fibrosis and allows proper lung clearance of bacteria. This is a ground breaking treatment because it treats the basic defect caused by the gene mutation in patients. Correcting the cells with this mutation shows that treatments aimed at the basic mutation can work leading to improvements in lung function and symptoms.”
Dr Damien Downey, from the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust said: “The success of this study illustrates the benefits that come from collaborative work here in Northern Ireland. Not only will this breakthrough help patients in Ireland and the UK but it has the potential to change the lives for those with Cystic Fibrosis around the world. As a result of the recent work researchers from Queen’s University, University of Ulster and clinicians from Belfast Health and Social Care Trust have been selected to join the European Cystic Fibrosis Society Clinical Trials Network. This means Cystic Fibrosis researchers in Northern Ireland will be collaborating with their European counterparts to work toward improved treatments for Cystic Fibrosis on a global level. ”
The new drug will be submitted for licensing in the Autumn of this year and is expected to be available to patients by as early next year.
Biology teachers from around Northern Ireland will have the opportunity to become involved in the latest cancer research techniques at a special event at Queen’s on Friday 10 June.
Over 50 AS and A-level teachers will visit the high-tech laboratories at the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology (CCRCB) at Queen’s School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences.As well as hearing about the latest developments in gene technology – a key aspect of the AS and A-level Biology syllabus – they will get to watch CCRCB’s researchers at work and, under their expert guidance, get the opportunity to extract DNA from cancer cells.
Queen’s is a key partner in The Belfast Cancer Research UK (CR-UK) Centre. It is one of only 15 designated CR-UK centres and the only one in Northern Ireland. The information day is the latest in a series of schools events at CCRCB, highlighting the Centre and Queen’s commitment to encouraging young people to pursue careers in cancer research.
CCRCB Director, Professor Dennis McCance, said: “Belfast is recognised worldwide for ground-breaking cancer research, and CCRCB is at the centre of that research. Our scientists are developing cutting-edge techniques in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer, which help alleviate human suffering around the world.
“To ensure that this important work continues, we must continue to attract the best and brightest young scientists from across Northern Ireland and around the world. Today’s A-level students could be at the forefront of tomorrow’s scientific breakthroughs, and that is why we work closely with local schools.
“Through our relationship with teachers and students, we show budding young scientists how what they learn in the classroom relates to the ground-breaking research being conducted here at CCRCB. I hope that some of the students from the schools represented here today will pursue their passion for science by choosing to study at Queen’s School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences and follow a career in cancer research.”
During the day, Professor McCance will give a unique insight into the use of genetics in personalised medicine, and how scientists can identify genetic markers in a patient’s blood to predict how that patient will respond to various treatments. Breakthroughs in this area of research are enabling doctors to plan more personalised treatment for cancer patients.
Teachers will also hear how new DNA technology is helping unlock the secrets of the past and present. Professor Patrick Morrison will explain how DNA from the skeleton of a 17th century giant was used to trace its present-day relatives, and how gene technology is used by forensic scientists to solve otherwise ‘perfect’ crimes.
Professor Sheena Lewis
The medical breakthrough, known as the SpermComet, has resulted from more than a decade's research by Professor Sheena Lewis, who leads the Reproductive Medicine research group at Queen's.
The SpermComet provides unique information that no other test offers. By measuring damaged DNA in individual sperm, it can predict the success of infertility treatments and fast-track couples to the treatment most likely to succeed, leading to significantly reduced waiting times and improved chances of conception.
Professor Lewis said: "One in six couples has difficulty in having a family. In 40 per cent of cases, the problems are related to the man.
"Until now, there have been few accurate ways of measuring a man’s fertility. Traditionally, the diagnosis of male infertility has relied on semen analysis. This provides the basic information on which fertility specialists base their initial diagnosis. However, its clinical value in predicting male fertility or success with infertility treatment is limited, particularly if the semen analysis results are normal.
“The SpermComet test is so called because it looks just like a comet in the sky. The head of the ‘Comet’ is undamaged DNA and the tail is damaged DNA. From the tail of the ‘Comet’ we can measure exactly the amount of damaged DNA in each individual sperm. Good quality sperm DNA is closely associated with getting pregnant and having a healthy baby, and the SpermComet Test is the most sensitive test available for sperm DNA testing."
Professor Lewis, in partnership with Queen’s venture spinout company, QUBIS, has now set up a new company to market the test, which is already available through a number of fertility clinics in Glasgow, Dublin and Galway.
QUBIS Chief Executive Panos Lioulias said: “As the number of infertile couples across Europe continues to increase by around five per cent each year, the need for such a test has never been greater. The SpermComet is the most sensitive test available to help clinics tailor treatment specifically to the man's needs, bringing hope to millions of couples across the globe.”
Professor Sheena Lewis has been at the forefront of research in male fertility for the past 20 years. She has led the reproductive research team in Queen’s University Belfast since 1995. She is Chair-Elect of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology's Andrology special interest group, the treasurer of the British Andrology Society, member of the executive committee of the British Fertility Society and past Vice-Chair of the Irish Fertility Society.
Sir John Savill (Chief Executive of the Medical Research Council ), Professor Patrick Johnston and Professor Peter Gregson (Vice Chancellor of Queen's University)
One of the world’s top cancer clinician scientists has been appointed Chair of the Translational Research Group of the Medical Research Council (MRC), which is responsible for developing and implementing the MRC’s research strategy in the UK.
Professor Patrick Johnston, Dean of the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast, will Chair the influential body, which invests in high-quality medical research across a wide range of diseases and disciplines.
Announcing the appointment at Queen’s University, Sir John Savill, Chief Executive of the Medical Research Council, said: “Professor Johnston’s appointment is extremely important. The role as chair of the Transitional Research Group is key to its success in the UK, which is one of our main objectives. The MRC has to deliver the economic benefits from its investments and getting the right strategy to achieve that is essential. Professor Johnston is very committed to translational research; he has particular expertise in cancer and is clearly someone who has chosen a very receptive translational research environment at Queen’s.”
Commenting on his appointment, Professor Johnston said: “This appointment is not only an honour for me but also for Queen’s University and Northern Ireland. It is also a major recognition of the research work undertaken in the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences.
“It will allow me to further develop translational research across the UK and also direct research at Queen’s into areas that will be more successful.”
Professor Peter Gregson, Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University, said: “Queen’s University is delighted that Professor Johnston has been honoured through his appointment to this key strategic role within the Medical Research Council. It is testament to his research reputation and his contribution, made through Queen’s, in the area of translational research. Importantly, it places Northern Ireland at the heart of strategy and policy development in the MRC.”
Scientists from the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at Queen’s University are teaming up to develop a cure to an illness that can lead to blindness in premature babies, thanks to funding from children’s charity Action Medical Research.
Two teams from the Centre for Vision and Vascular Science at Queen’s are taking different approaches to a condition called Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP). The condition can lead to blindness in premature babies, putting the youngest, sickest and smallest babies most at risk, including over 3,000 babies who are born more than 12 weeks early each year in the UK.
ROP is caused by blood vessels in the eye growing abnormally and causing damage to the retina – the light-sensitive inner lining of the eye. Evidence suggests it develops in two stages:
- Stage 1. Premature babies have poorly developed lungs and need extra oxygen to help them breathe. Unfortunately the blood vessels that supply the eye’s light-sensitive retina are damaged by this additional oxygen and stop growing properly, meaning the retina does not get enough nutrients.
- Stage 2. Eventually, in response to this damage, new vessels grow, in an attempt to rescue the retina, but they are abnormal and actually damage the eye, causing vision loss.
The first team, led by Dr Denise McDonald, has the aim of tackling the disease at a very early stage, which will minimise the damaging effects of ROP.
The second team, led by Dr Derek Brazil, is investigating whether stem cells from babies’ own umbilical cords might have the power to repair their damaged eyes and save their sight.
About one in ten babies with ROP develops severe disease, which threatens his or her sight. If this is detected early enough, laser treatment can save the most important part of a baby’s vision – the sharp, central vision we need to look straight ahead. However, this causes permanent loss of a baby’s peripheral vision and may induce short-sightedness. What’s more, it doesn’t always work, meaning some babies still go blind.
Dr Brazil believes it may be possible to protect babies from ROP, and save their sight, by treating them with a special type of stem cell taken from their own umbilical cords. Dr Brazil and his colleagues Dr Michelle Hookham, Dr Reinhold Medina and the Centre Director Professor Alan Stitt, were awarded a two-year grant by Action Medical Research, to undertake this important work.
He said: “We hope our laboratory work will reveal whether vascular stem cells have the potential to repair damage to babies’ eyes and save their sight. If so, it is possible that in the future vascular stem cells could be taken from a baby’s own umbilical cord just after birth and then grown in the laboratory in case treatment is needed.
Taking a different approach, Dr McDonald and her team are exploring a key step in the early stages of the disease process. While laser treatment tackles stage 2 of the disease process, by stopping abnormal blood vessels from growing, by this stage the disease can already be quite severe.
Dr McDonald and her team are looking for possible new treatments which will protect the retinal blood vessels from the effect of high oxygen which occurs in stage one.
Evidence suggests that certain cofactors protect and encourage normal growth of the delicate blood vessels that supply the retina, as long as they are present in sufficient quantities. In contrast, low levels of these cofactors seem to be linked to the destruction of blood vessels. The researchers are investigating the role of specific cofactors and ways to enhance their function as a possible treatment for ROP.
Dr Denise McDonald and her colleague, Dr Tom Gardiner, were awarded a two-year research grant from Action Medical Research for the project.
Dr Alexandra Dedman, Senior Research Evaluation Manager from Action Medical Research, said: “We are delighted to be funding these two expert research teams in Belfast who both have longstanding track records, recognised internationally. Their work in this area has the potential to change the lives of babies around the world suffering from this condition.”
Both Dr Brazil’s and Dr McDonald’s teams are based at the Centre for Vision and Vascular Science at Queen’s University Belfast, which contains state-of-the art facilities and equipment. The centre has a long history of successful research into many of the leading causes of vision loss. Both projects involve collaboration with Dr Eibhlin McLoone, consultant paediatric ophthalmologist at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
Scientists at Queen’s University are playing a key role in a new, national centre of excellence to train the next generation of researchers in technology which could improve cancer therapy and strengthen homeland security.
Queen’s has joined forces with the Universities of Strathclyde, Huddersfield and Surrey to set up a new Centre for Doctoral Training. The Centre will train more than 30 PhD students in the practical applications of innovative accelerators – powerful, compact devices driven by lasers or by intense high-frequency electric fields.
The CDT is to receive £2 million from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), with matching support from the universities and industry.
This is the first time that a Northern Ireland university has been involved in a Doctoral Training Centre, which is one of the main postgraduate funding routes in the mainland UK.
The CDT will involve academics across Queen’s Centre for Plasma Physics and the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology.
Professor Marco Borghesi, from the University’s School of Mathematics and Physics, said: “This is a very exciting development in an area which has the potential to make a very real social impact.
“It builds on two world-leading areas of research at Queen’s – plasma accelerators in the Centre for Plasma Physics and radiobiology in the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology. The expertise and the excellent resources available to the two centres will provide a unique training environment and a key contribution to the CDT.”
The intensive training will cross traditional academic boundaries, combining physics with biology and medicine. It will also offer students the opportunities to work with industry and health authorities, and to gain experience in leadership, entrepreneurship and management.
Dr Anna Gavin
The study conducted by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry and funded by the Ulster Cancer Foundation found that while patients who die in hospital with cancer are very ill, late diagnosis of their cancer is a major factor in hospital cancer deaths here. This is the first ever study in Northern Ireland specifically investigating why cancer patients die in acute hospitals.
Over half of patients recorded preferred to die at home, yet in Northern Ireland the majority (45 percent) of cancers deaths occurred in hospital and only a third of patients died at home (12.5 percent die in hospices and 8 percent in nursing/residential or care homes).
Why Cancer Patients Die in Acute Hospitals examined patient hospital records for 695 cancer patients who died in hospital in the last six months of 2007. It investigated the time from diagnosis to death as well as the preferred place of death in comparison with actual place of death.
The report found the following:
- Over a quarter of all deaths in Northern Ireland are due to cancer, accounting for approximately 4150 deaths per year.
- The average age of patients who had cancer and died in hospital was 74 years. The average time from diagnosis to death was 4 months with one third dying within one month of diagnosis.
- Cancer registry data shows that overall in 2007 one in eleven of all cancer patients died within one month of diagnosis, which points to a general problem of late diagnosis of cancers.
- Most of the late diagnoses were cancers of the lung or digestive organs and were more likely to occur in older, non-partnered patients.
- Almost forty per cent of patients who died in hospital, had specifically requested to return to their usual residence. For three-quarters of cases, their condition deteriorated and a return to home was not possible. There was a lack of a suitable bed for 12.4 percent and the necessary care package was not in place for 4.9 percent. 3 percent lacked the required family support.
- The proportion of cancer patients dying at home has decreased significantly from 38.1 percent (1983-1992) to 32.1 per cent in 2003-2007, however more now die in nursing homes which in many cases is their home.
- Cancer deaths occurring at home varied significantly across Local Government Districts and ranged from 24 percent in Newtownabbey to 46.9 per cent in Magherafelt. There was a similar significant variability in the proportion of hospital deaths by Local Government District, which ranged from 36.3 per cent in Strabane to 62.9 per cent in Ballymoney.
- A cancer death at home was more likely for males, patients that were partnered, patients from deprived backgrounds and younger patients.
The report also makes a number of recommendations, which include:
- A major initiative to improve earlier recognition of cancer symptoms among both the public and healthcare professionals.
- Nursing homes should be specifically targeted for training in early recognition of cancer symptoms and have strategies developed to enable residents with cancer to die in their preferred place of death.
- For the approximate 20% of patients whose condition would have allowed a return to usual residence (to die in their place of preference), efforts should be enhanced to ensure facilities and resources in the community are available to support patients and their carers.
- Further work is recommended to study what helps to facilitate a home death for cancer patients nearing end of life.
- The report highlights the importance of the recommendations made within the 2010 Palliative and End of Life Care Strategy for Northern Ireland (DHSSPS, 2010) and recommends that these should be included in training and in appropriate protocols for professionals who work with cancer patients.
Roisin Foster, Chief Executive of the Ulster Cancer Foundation, said: “The Ulster Cancer Foundation is very pleased to have been able to fund this research by the NI Cancer Registry. Its findings have the potential to promote earlier diagnosis of cancer among older people. It also points to improvements in community services that would enable more people have their final wish to die at home honoured. This research was funded by donations from the Northern Ireland public. Our supporters can be assured that their generosity is making a real difference now and in the future.”
The Northern Ireland Cancer Trials Centre (NICTC), formerly known as the Northern Ireland Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, launches its new name, logo and web-site today.
The co-ordinating centre for cancer clinical trials in N. Ireland, NICTC based at Belfast City Hospital, is a joint project between Queen’s and the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. The work of the Centre is funded by the Health and Social Care R&D Division of the NI Public Health Agency and by the charities Cancer Research UK and the Friends of the Cancer Centre.
Professor Bernie Hannigan, Director of HSC R&D, welcomed the launch saying “Cancer clinical trials are essential for continued progress towards even more effective treatments and care for patients with cancer. We are very pleased to continue supporting this important activity and we applaud the very significant achievements being made by clinicians and researchers based in Northern Ireland”.
Dr Richard Wilson, the Centre’s Clinical Director said “Our patients with cancer who take part in clinical trials are helping us to develop better and safer treatments. They also help us through translational research to identify who is most likely to benefit from a given therapy, and who is most at risk of side-effects.
“This allows us to develop personalized medicine specifically targeted to each individual and their cancer.
“Last year over 1,100 patients in N. Ireland took part in our clinical trials or other high quality cancer research studies.”
The NICTC is also launching a strategy to increase personal and public involvement in cancer research in Northern Ireland.
Anyone living with or beyond cancer, or relatives or carers of someone with cancer may want to consider getting involved in helping to influence cancer research.
If you are in one of these groups and interested in finding out more, you are invited to get in touch with NICTC. You can find details at the web-site, or by contacting Ruth Boyd, Cancer Research UK Senior Nurse at the NICTC Tel: 028 9026 3903 or e-mail nictc@belfasttrust.hscni.net.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust has been nominated a Queen’s University Hospitals Campus in recognition of its contribution to delivery of a world-class training system for Northern Ireland’s future doctors.
And seven hospitals – Altnagelvin, Antrim, Causeway, Craigavon, Daisy Hill, Erne and Ulster – are to be awarded Queen’s University Teaching Hospital status, in recognition of their major contribution to medical education.
The new arrangements, to be announced at Queen’s later today, include the launch of educational sub-deaneries in each Trust to co-ordinate and implement the delivery of the undergraduate clinical educational programme within the Trusts.
The sub-deaneries, and their close partnership with Queen’s Medical School, will ensure that the NHS is able to engage fully in undergraduate medical education.
The initiatives – part of a major new partnership between the University, Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, and local Health Trusts – will ensure an integrated approach to medical education across Northern Ireland.
Queen’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Gregson said: “Today’s announcement re-affirms the position of Queen's Medical School as a leading provider of medical education in the UK and Ireland.
“These developments provide an integrated framework which enables clinical academics and health service clinicians to work in partnership to deliver the highest standards of medical education. They also specifically recognise the role of Northern Ireland’s acute hospitals, which perform a critical role in delivering high-quality clinical placements for our students.”
Professor Patrick Johnston, Dean of the University’s School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, said: “The Medical School at Queen’s is driven by a commitment to enhance and improve the quality of life and health care provision for patients across Northern Ireland.
“The designation of Queen’s Teaching Hospitals and the development of educational sub-deaneries within the NHS Trusts reflects this commitment, by creating a world-class educational structure and training system for our future doctors.”
Dr David Grieve
A breakthrough by scientists at Queen’s could help reduce heart failure in cancer patients around the world, and ultimately increase survival rates.
Scientists at Queen’s Centre for Vision and Vascular Science have discovered the role of an enzyme which, when a patient receives chemotherapy, can cause life-threatening damage to the heart. This has, until now, restricted the amount of chemotherapy doses a patient can receive; but while protecting the heart, this dilutes the chemotherapy’s effectiveness in destroying cancerous tumours.
By identifying the role of the enzyme - NADPH oxidase - work can now go ahead into making chemotherapy treatments more effective and reduce the toxic effects of cancer treatment on the heart.
Dr David Grieve, jointly leading on the research at Queen’s School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences said: “While chemotherapy drugs are highly effective in treating a wide range of tumours, they can also cause irreversible damage to the heart. This means that doctors are restricted in the doses they can administer to patients. In recent years, scientists have been searching for new drugs to prevent these side-effects.
“Although we have known about the NADPH oxidase enzyme for many years, until now, we were not aware of its crucial role in causing heart damage associated with chemotherapy. Our research findings hold clear potential for the creation of new drugs to block the action of the enzyme, which could significantly reduce heart damage in cancer patients.
“Ultimately, this could allow for the safer use of higher doses of chemotherapy drugs and make the treatment more effective against tumours. Despite improved treatments, cancer is currently responsible for 25 per cent of all mortality in the western world. By reducing the risk of heart failure associated with chemotherapy, patient survival rates could be significantly increased.”
Scientists at Queen’s are now concentrating their efforts on further studies to define the precise role of NADPH oxidase in the development of heart failure associated with cancer therapies. It is hoped that these may lead to the development of a drug which would have the potential to save lives among cancer patients.
The research by Dr David Grieve and Professor Barbara McDermott was funded by the British Heart Foundation in Northern Ireland and published in leading international journal, Cancer Research.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride is ‘checked out’ by Megan McNulty, a P7 pupil at Lisnasharragh Primary School, at the Medics in Primary Schools launch
Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride has launched the 2011 Medics in Primary Schools programme at Queen’s. The joint initiative, run by Queen’s and Sentinus and supported by the Education and Library Boards, offers undergraduate medical students the opportunity to spend time in primary schools, giving pupils a better understanding of their own health.
Dr McBride said: “This programme is extremely important. Not only does it give medical students the opportunity to enhance their communication skills, it also makes a real difference to the lives of children by teaching them how to adopt a healthy lifestyle.”
Dr McBride praised the aims of the initiative, which includes encouraging children to take up STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) that help provide the basis for future health-related study and jobs. He said: “It is important that we look forward to the doctors, nurses, dentists, scientists and other professionals who will be needed in our health service in the years to come.”
Professor Patrick Johnston, Dean of the University’s School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, said: “We are delighted to once again collaborate with Sentinus on delivering this programme.
“Medics in Primary Schools is a unique initiative, which is expanding year on year. It not only introduces schoolchildren to the benefits of healthy living and encourages them to think about a career in health or life sciences, but it also helps our medical students to gain valuable communications skills.”
Bill Connor, Sentinus Projects Director, said: “As Northern Ireland’s leading promoter of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects in schools, Sentinus aims to provide educational experiences that will engage the younger generation and enrich their future career decisions.
“The Medics in Primary Schools programme helps to raise awareness of health and lifestyle issues in school children through interactive learning that departs from the standard classroom routine – it’s by making learning exciting that we will help younger students discover firsthand the benefits of pursing study in STEM. During the programme the medical students act as positive role models who can help shape primary children’s decisions regarding their future career while also developing their own communication skills.”
Since its inception in 2000 almost 450 medical students have taken part in the initiative. More than 10,000 pupils have benefited. This year, 70 second-year medical students will be in 47 primary schools in the Greater Belfast area. The young medics will guide the participating school children through a health education programme including Healthy Body, Healthy Heart and Lungs, Healthy Skin and Healthy Brain.
Professor Alan Stitt
One of Northern Ireland’s leading scientists has received a top UK award, to support ground-breaking research into vascular stem cells and eye disease at Queen’s.
Professor Alan Stitt, McCauley Chair of Experimental Ophthalmology and the Director of the Centre for Vision and Vascular Science (CVVS) at Queen’s, has been awarded the prestigious Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award. The award supports respected scientists of outstanding achievement and potential, with the aim of retaining their expertise within the UK. Only 30 of these awards are made each year to researchers in all areas of the life and physical sciences, including engineering.
On receiving the award Professor Stitt said: “This links to my research in the area of vascular stem cells and treatment of important sight-threatening eye diseases. At Queen’s, we hope to continue to make significant discoveries in this field and improve the treatment of eye diseases for those with diabetes.”
He added: “As an individual, it is very flattering to be recognised in this manner but this also reflects the talent and hard work of my research team. This Merit Award also underscores the excellent environment and international standard of research in the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science at Queen’s.”
This Merit Award will support Professor Stitt’s research in the area of vascular stem cells and treatment of important eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy. This research is pioneering the application of “cell therapy” using a very rare population of cells that promote repair of damaged blood vessels within the retina.
The award is presented by the Royal Society and jointly funded by the Wolfson Foundation and the UK Office of Science and Technology.
Research team: Professor Gerry McElvaney, RCSI, Professor Ric Boucher, University of North Carolina, Professor Stuart Elborn, Queen’s University, Dr Marianne Muhlebach, University of North Carolina, Dr Michael Tunney, Queen’s University, Dr Deirdre Gilpin, Queen’s University
Scientists at Queen’s have begun work into improving the lives of thousands of Cystic Fibrosis sufferers thanks to the award of a £1.74 million US-Ireland Research and Development Partnership grant.
The grant has been approved by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the USA with funding for the Queen’s component provided by Health and Social Care Research and Development (HSC R&D Public Health Agency), Northern Ireland and the Medical Research Council. The grant is the largest ever to be awarded in the UK to study the microbiology of Cystic Fibrosis pulmonary infection.
The study is a collaborative US-Ireland international study with researchers in the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, Dublin, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA and the School of Pharmacy and the Centre for Infection and Immunity at Queen’s University, Belfast.
Leading the study, Professor Stuart Elborn, Director of the Centre for Infection and Immunity in the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at Queen’s said: “The key goals of this study are to find out the role of anaerobes in causing damage to the lungs of people with Cystic Fibrosis. Anaerobes are bacteria that do not need oxygen to survive and we will determine whether their presence in the lung contributes to infection there.
"We will also examine whether the bacteria are able to produce chemicals that can damage lung tissue and break down antibiotics given to treat lung infection. We will also look at how effective different antibiotics are in treating them.”
He added: “The results of the study will be of important clinical relevance to people with Cystic Fibrosis because if we show that these anaerobes are contributing to infection and inflammation in the lungs of Cystic Fibrosis patients, in the future, patients could potentially be given more appropriate and effective antibiotics which should improve their clinical outcome and quality of life.”
The research project has been funded for five years with an aim of recruiting a total of 450 Cystic Fibrosis patients across the three sites. The work will be performed in the ‘US-Ireland Anaerobe Laboratory’ in the Medical Biology Centre which has been recently refurbished - specifically to facilitate the delivery of this project.
Dr Anthony Collins
Researchers at Queen’s are working towards new therapies to prevent irregular heart rhythms - known as cardiac arrhythmia - following a £200,000 grant from the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Northern Ireland.
Over the past two years the BHF Northern Ireland has pumped almost £800,000 into research at Queen’s to tackle heart disease, Northern Ireland’s biggest killer.
Dr Anthony Collins, from the Centre for Vision and Vascular Science in Queen’s School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences is leading the new research project.
He explained: “The pumping action of the heart has to be very regular in order to pump blood around the body efficiently. In a diseased heart this pumping action can become irregular which means the blood is not delivered to the vital organs.
“This research is looking at the changes that take place in the muscle of a diseased heart – the changes that cause the irregular heart beat. Our long-term aim is to look at ways of making the heart muscle better by developing gene or drug-based therapies.
“Our team is determined to do its part in translating the generosity of British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland supporters into real advances in cardiovascular medicine and we are also committed to enhancing Queen’s reputation as a world leader in biomedical research.”
The Queen’s team includes Dr David Bell, Dr David Grieve, Professor Barbara McDermott and Dr David Simpson.
Marjory Burns, BHF Northern Ireland Director said: “Thanks to the generous donations of our supporters across the UK we’re able to fund vital research to fight diseases of the heart and circulation. Funding to local researchers supports our ever-increasing portfolio of world-leading research to improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care of heart disease.”
Further information on the work of the Centre for Vision and Vascular Science at Queen’s can be found online at www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/CentreforVisionandVascularScience/
(L-R) Jim Edwards, Signature Chief Executive; Brian Symington, Director of RNID NI; Jayne Woodside, Queen's and Bobby Bailey, Sign Language Tutor, RNID
Queen’s and RNID Northern Ireland have won a national award for their work in ensuring future doctors are better equipped to communicate with deaf patients.
Queen’s School of Medicine, Dentistry and Life Sciences received the Organisational Achievement accolade at the annual Signature Awards for its Specialist Module on Deafness. The awards, hosted by leading deaf charity Signature, recognise those who have made a significant contribution towards achieving a society in which deaf and deafblind people have full access to society.
Second year medical students at Queen’s are offered the specialist module which is delivered by the RNID in British Sign Language (BSL). It ensures that future doctors are better equipped to communicate with deaf patients, and includes information on deaf awareness, deaf culture and healthcare issues for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Students also work to develop a health-related video British Sign Language Directory.
Speaking at the awards, Signature Chief Executive Jim Edwards said: “Queen’s University Belfast has shown great commitment to helping the deaf community overcome communication barriers, and great credit should go to the team. These vital skills will ensure a legacy of inclusiveness for deaf patients in Northern Ireland. They thoroughly deserve the recognition this accolade brings and should be very proud.”
Following the success of the module, both Queen’s and the RNID now intend to make the module available to all healthcare-related undergraduates at the University, through the development of a website funded by the Higher Education Academy.
Dr Jayne Woodside, who runs the specialist module and is developing the new website, said; “This course is an important opportunity for medical students to develop deaf awareness and communication skills, and we are very keen to both maintain and develop these links with RNID. Following its success, in the future, we are planning to make our new website available to undergraduates in all healthcare disciplines.”
Director of RNID NI, Brian Symington added: “We are campaigning for improved access to healthcare for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Having doctors who are able to communicate effectively with their deaf and hard of hearing patients is a major step forward in making healthcare services in Northern Ireland accessible. The success of this course is due to the excellent partnership working between Queen’s, RNID and Signature.”
Ahead of World Diabetes Day on Sunday 14 November, leading eye research charity Fight for Sight is urging people with diabetes to have regular eye tests to check for signs of diabetic eye disease.
Fight for Sight funds a number of research projects at the Centre for Vision and Vascular Science at Queen's University Belfast, looking at ways to prevent diabetic retinopathy.
Fight for Sight Research Officer, Dr Dolores Conroy, says: "Regular eye tests and screening can detect the early signs of diabetic eye disease - a complication of diabetes which, if left untreated, can lead to sight loss.
"World Diabetes Day is an opportunity to remind people of the importance of regular eye tests especially those at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy and other diabetic eye disease.”
There are 2.8 million people in the UK diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes, is the leading cause of sight loss among working age people in the UK. Although many people don’t show symptoms in the early stages of the disease, it can cause blood vessels in the retina to weaken and break leading to bleeding and potential scarring in the retina.
As the disease progresses, new blood vessels continue to grow and break causing scar tissue to develop on the retina. Without treatment, it can lead to loss of vision and to other eye conditions including retinal detachment and glaucoma.
Over the last year, Fight for Sight has committed funding to a number of research projects at the Centre for Vision and Vascular Science at Queen's School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science.
Professor Graham McGeown and Dr Tim Curtis are investigating the effects of diabetes on sight including the disruption of blood flow to the retina; Dr Reinhold Medina Benavente is looking at a potential new cell-replacement therapy which can be used to halt the progression of diabetic retinopathy by replacing damaged blood vessels; and, based on recent findings linking inflammation to the progression of diabetic retinopathy, Professor Alan Stitt is investigating the causes of inflammation which can damage the retina in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy.
“Fight for Sight is funding ongoing research into the prevention of diabetic retinopathy but at the moment, early detection is still the best way to prevent sight loss from this and other diabetic eye diseases."
Fight for Sight is urging people to talk to their doctor or optician about eye tests and screening to detect diabetic eye disease. A screening programme launched by the NHS in 2005 offers free screening for everyone with diabetes aged 12 years and over.
For more information about Fight for Sight see www.fightforsight.org.uk
For more information about World Diabetes Day, visit www.worlddiabetesday.org
For more information call Louise Elliott, Fight for Sight, 020 7929 7755 or the visit website: www.fightforsight.org.uk
Leaders from the public and private sectors are joining forces at Queen’s today to focus on stimulating opportunities for economic growth within the social economy.
They are taking part in one of a series of masterclasses aimed at promoting best practice to social entrepreneurs, policy-makers, business leaders and public sector managers. Today’s event is highlighting activity in the Health Sector.
The event will feature two case study presentations, given by Margaret Elliott OBE, founder of Sunderland Home Care Associates and Ciaran Sheehan, MD of Care Circle Group Ltd. The series is funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and Invest Northern Ireland.
Professor Paddy Johnston, Dean of the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Life Sciences at Queen’s, who is chairing today’s masterclass, said: “A focus on ideas, entrepreneurship and venture capital is the way forward and is a sustainable way for Northern Ireland to prosper.
“At Queen’s we have exciting plans to create a new Institute of Health Sciences research centre. This will place Northern Ireland as a world leader in the fields of medicine and biomedical research – a strategy that will stimulate business activity in Belfast and further afield. This initiative is sure to have a massive impact on health service provision in Northern Ireland and Ireland and place the region in a position to create a whole range of jobs.”
Ciaran Sheehan, who was recently named IoD Director of the Year for a Large Company, said: “There is an opportunity to promote and explore the potential synergy between the Health and Social Economy sectors and to develop thinking on how the two can work in partnership to deliver real benefits for all. The social economy sector is well-positioned to help the Executive meet many of its social and economic goals and has a unique contribution to make to the broad health service in Northern Ireland”.
He added: “Our business has generated £1.5m in sales, paid out over £1m in local salaries and now employs almost 40 people many of whom were previously long-term unemployed. It is a great example of how local people can deliver home care services in their area while also receiving excellent training and development. According to Ciaran this model could be rolled out across all Health Trust areas in Northern Ireland”.
The series is the brainchild of the School for Social Entrepreneurs in Ireland – a joint venture of the Flax Trust and the University of Ulster. The SSEI has organised the events with the support of partner organisations UCIT, the Social Economy Network, Enterprise NI and Charity Bank.
The masterclass takes place in The Canada Room on Wednesday, 27 October from 6.15pm-8.15pm.
Attendance at the masterclass is free, although pre-registration is essential. For more information on the event, visit www.podiem.com/socialeconomy.aspx or email socialeconomy@podiem.com to reserve your place.
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Queen’s University, in collaboration with the British Red Cross, has become the first medical school in the UK to provide compulsory first aid training, resulting in the award of a First Aid certificate, to over 320 first year medical and dental students. Red Cross trainers deliver a seven hour, Basic First Aid course in two sessions, which covers a wide range of essential, life-saving skills. The move follows a successful three-year pilot, which saw the British Red Cross provide an optional training module to the school’s third year students. Feedback from this pilot revealed that the acquisition of first aid skills was rated highly by participating students. Course Director, Dr Nigel Hart, explains why the medical school was so keen to ensure that all students received first aid training during their first semester; “We have been eager to include a compulsory first aid module for students for a number of reasons. We have seen how the training gives students greater confidence in dealing with unexpected situations, even at an early stage in their medical and dental careers. In addition, the provision of first aid training to medical students was a key recommendation of the GMC’s ‘Tomorrow’s Doctors’ report of 2009, and this is our response to that recommendation.” Medical student, Mary Elizabeth Finnan, who has just finished the training said: “I found the first aid training very beneficial as a first year medical student. After completing the course I feel confident to react in emergency situations, which is essential as I am studying medicine. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and found the first aid trainers extremely helpful.” Paula Powell, the Red Cross’ Project Manager for community based first aid, said: “We’re delighted to be working so closely with Queen’s Medical School. Of course we believe that first aid is a skill that everyone should learn. You don’t have to be a medical professional to provide appropriate help in an emergency and we’d encourage ordinary members of the public to either enrol for one of our courses, or at the very least, to go to the Red Cross website and read up on some basic common-sense advice that could make all the difference in a crisis.” |
The University and the Public Health Agency (PHA) were informed at the weekend of a case of meningococcal meningitis in a Queen’s University student. Since then a second suspected case of the disease has been reported. The Senior Medical Officer of the University has been working closely with the PHA since the weekend to ensure the effective implementation of necessary actions.
All appropriate Public Health and University measures have been taken and preventative antibiotics have been organised for contacts. Both students are in first year Dentistry and steps have been taken to offer antibiotics to all students in first year Dentistry and first year Medicine who share lectures, as a precautionary measure.
Although not particularly common in this age group, all young people aged 16-24 years old, particularly those attending University need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of meningitis.
Staff and students who may experience symptoms including severe headache, dislike of bright lights, vomiting, neck stiffness, a non-blanching rash and drowsiness should contact their GP or local A&E department immediately. Staff, students and young people should also watch out for these signs and symptoms in their friends.
The Public Health Agency and the University continue to work together to monitor the situation and will take further action if necessary.
Students should note that all classes are continuing as normal.
Further meningitis information can be found on the Health Protection website at www.hpa.org.uk or www.meningitis.org/news-media/are-students-clued-up-on-40089
Professor Danny McAuley
Researchers at Queen’s are investigating a potential new treatment for lung disease that could help save many lives each year.
The research team are studying how statins, drugs which are commonly used to treat high cholesterol, can be used to treat lung disease.
There is currently no effective treatment for acute lung injury. The team hopes the work could boost survival rates for those who become critically ill and suffer lung failure after incidents such as road traffic accidents or severe infections.
Leading the research is Professor Danny McAuley from Queen’s Centre for Infection and Immunity. He said: “When people are critically ill their lungs can fail. This is termed ‘acute lung injury’ and means that the lungs fill with water instead of air. Breathing becomes difficult and a ventilator is needed to take over.
“Statins have the potential to improve lung injury by reducing inflammation in the lung, reversing the damage and therefore decreasing the amount of water in the lungs. This helps fight infection.”
The team includes Queen’s researchers, Dr Celia O’Kane and Professor Cliff Taggart, along with Professor John Laffey from National University Ireland, Galway.
The research has the potential to free up healthcare resources and allow more people to return to the workplace sooner following spells in hospital.
Professor McAuley added: “There may be up to 45,000 cases of acute lung injury each year in the UK and Ireland and up to 22,000 deaths. Only around half of those who survive are able to return to work 12 months after discharge from hospital. After recovery from lung injury, patients can go on to experience a poorer quality of life and many are unable to look after themselves.
“But this treatment has the potential to reduce the impact of acute lung injury and the time patients need to stay in intensive care units. It could also significantly reduce the strain on hospital beds.”
The study is being managed by staff from the Clinical Research Support Centre in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and has been supported by the infrastructure provided by the Northern Ireland Clinical Research Network. The Clinical Research Facility at NUI Galway is providing additional support. The study is taking place over four years in approximately 25 other intensive care units throughout the UK and Ireland.
The research is being funded by the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation programme (www.eme.ac.uk) which is funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and managed by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The Health Research Board and the Intensive Care Society of Ireland have also provided additional funding.
Professor McAuley’s previous research, which lead to this study, has been funded by the Health and Social Care Research and Development Division, Public Health Agency for Northern Ireland and REVIVE.
Medicine and Drama students rehearse together for 'PERFECT'
The debate around ‘designer babies’ will be centre stage at Queen’s this week as the University takes a new approach to medical education.
Trainee doctors and drama students are coming together, along with a theatre director, a choreographer and a medical ethicist to explore the ethics of reproduction.
The result is PERFECT, a unique performance in the University’s Brian Friel Theatre (22- 24 September at 6.30pm and 8.30pm).
The performance brings together students and staff from Queen’s School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences and the University’s Centre for Excellence in the Creative and Performing Arts. It builds upon the success of last year’s project, Dead Man Talking, which focused on the issue of body donation to medical science. The project was awarded an Award of Excellence for Innovation from the Dean of the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at Queen’s.
Dr Melissa McCullough, Lecturer in Medical Law and Ethics at the Centre for Medical Education at Queen’s, will present the project’s outcomes at the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities conference in San Diego next month. She said: “This is an extremely innovative and successful approach to medical education. We are taking medical students out of a clinical setting and putting them on the stage. This is a new forum in which students can explore medical ethics and express scientific and ethical arguments through performance art.
“PERFECT will explore the ethics of reproduction, and the controversial idea of using genetic engineering to artificially select the genetic makeup of embryos. It will look at the reasons why parents may choose to have a so-called ‘designer baby’, the public image of this practice, and the experience of doctors and researchers who work in this field.
“Tomorrow’s doctors need to be more than just medics. They must be good managers and excellent team players, with an ability to adapt quickly to any situation. From team work and public speaking, to working within a completely different discipline and adjusting to a new environment, this project has helped our medical students develop a range of skills they will need for a successful career in medicine.”
Anna Newell from the Centre of Excellence in the Creative and Performing Arts at Queen’s will direct the performance. She said: “Many of the medical students involved in the project haven’t been on stage since they left primary school. This has thrown them out of their comfort zone and encouraged them to look at medicine and medical ethics from a new perspective. All those involved – twelve students from Medicine and five from Drama Studies – have thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
“This project has brought science and art together in a new way at Queen’s. It is the latest in a series of initiatives by the Centre to develop more inter-disciplinarity across the creative and performing arts at the University and increase interaction with professional arts practitioners.
“Our drama students have been excellent role models for the medical students in relation to professionalism, teamwork and creativity. The student mix has been integral to the project’s success.
“I would encourage anyone with an interest in either medicine or the arts to come along to the performance. Tickets are free and can be reserved through Juliana Licinic on 028 9097 5034 or at j.licinic@qub.ac.uk.”
The Barcroft Lecture was established by The Wellcome Trust to honour Henry Barcroft FRS, a distinguished Trustee who was the Dunville Professor of Physiology at Queen's University. The Barcroft Lecture and Medal are awarded for major contributions to research in the fields of physiology or medicine. This year's Barcroft Lecturer is Professor Eric Newman, whose work has advanced our understanding of how blood flow is controlled to meet changing metabolic need in the retina.
The Barcroft Lecture will be held on Monday 18 October 2010. For further details please click here.
Professor Mike Shields
Researchers at Queen’s and the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust have developed a groundbreaking test for meningitis which could help save lives.
A rapid diagnostic test for meningococcal bacteria that can produce results within an hour has been developed by scientists from Queen’s Centre for Infection and Immunity and the Trust. The speed of this new test is a vital factor in the treatment of young children with meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia who become very ill over a short period.
Professor Mike Shields, of Queen’s and the Belfast Trust, explained: “The first symptoms of meningococcal infections are the same as a simple viral infection, making it difficult to diagnose in the early stages. Parents often use the ‘tumbler test’ on their children’s bodies, but the non-blanching rash that is associated with a positive outcome of this test is a late sign and is not always present in children who have meningitis.
“Currently doctors will admit and treat with antibiotics any child that they suspect of having meningococcal disease while they await the traditional test results that take between 24 and 48 hours. Some children are not diagnosed in the early stages while others are admitted and treated ‘just in case’ when they don’t actually have the disease.
“With the development of a small piece of equipment, which resembles a portable home printer, a sample of blood or a secretion such as saliva, can be tested quickly by the machine. This produces a colour reading that determines if the patient has meningitis or not.”
Alongside saving lives, early detection can potentially improve outcomes for meningitis patients who are often left with life-altering conditions such as deafness and cerebral palsy.
The machine is now being trialled in the A&E Department of the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children in Belfast.
Professor Shields explained how the breakthrough is a great example of research benefitting patients.
“There is no other rapid test that can confirm the diagnosis in such a short time. The current tests are expensive and take up to two days to obtain. Speedy identification of the cause of infection can enable doctors to make life-saving decisions about the treatment of patients. If we have the results within an hour we will be able to start the appropriate course of treatment right away.”
The new test is very different to standard culture based detection methods that have been used up until now.
Professor Shields: “In recent years molecular diagnostic tests, that use the DNA finger print from ‘bugs’ for diagnosis, have been developed, but they still require the specimen sample to be transported to the laboratory and takes a considerable time to get the result back to the doctor. This means that doctors have to make clinical decisions before results are available.
“The new test called ‘loop mediated isothermal amplification’ also utilises a molecular method to detect genes that are common to all strains on the meningococcus. The real advantage of the new LAMP test is that it has the potential to be a simple bedside test that is rapid, cheap, easy to use and doesn’t require laboratory trained staff.”
Currently there are 1,200 to 1,500 laboratory confirmed cases of meningococcal disease in the UK each year and it is thought that actual numbers could be higher.
The medical team behind this breakthrough was recognised for its work in June of this year when they won an Elevations Diagnostics idea of the year award, organised by HSC innovators, a panel of experts from industry, healthcare and business support organisations.
A new report published by medical journal The Lancet this weekend, reveals women with type 1 diabetes, who are at high risk of pre-eclampsia and preterm delivery, will not have their risk lowered by taking vitamin supplements C and E.
The report, involving researchers from the Centre for Public Health and the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Queen’s University Belfast and the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust also found, however, that vitamin supplementation could be beneficial in those women with low levels of dietary antioxidants in their blood and that this possibility needs further investigation.
The causes of pre-eclampsia are not known, but it has been suggested that oxidative stress, (where free radicals harm cells), might play a key role in the development of the condition.
In 1999, a small trial suggested that vitamin C and E might reduce pre-eclampsia in all pregnant women, not just those with type 1 diabetes. Since then however, subsequent larger trials found no benefit of vitamin C and E supplementation during regular pregnancies.
Several previous research studies had also previously suggested that because type 1 diabetes is associated with both increased oxidative stress (and a reduction in antioxidants), antioxidant vitamin supplements could improve outcomes for these women.
To investigate further, the Diabetes and Pre-Eclampsia Intervention Trial (DAPIT) study group examined the benefits of 1000mg vitamin C and 400 IU (international units) vitamin E in 762 pregnant women with type 1 diabetes, recruited from 25 UK antenatal clinics in the UK. Women were randomly assigned to vitamins (379) or placebo (383) daily from between 8 and 22 weeks until delivery.
Overall, findings showed that the rate of pre-eclampsia was similar in both groups (15 per cent vs 19 per cent). In women with low antioxidant status at the start of the study however, taking vitamins was associated with a significantly lower risk of pre-eclampsia.
There was no evidence of harm from vitamin supplementation to either mothers or babies. Antioxidant vitamins did not increase the likelihood of developing high blood pressure during pregnancy (11 per cent vs 11 per cent) and actually tended to reduce the risk of having a low birthweight baby (6 per cent vs 10 per cent). Additionally, fewer babies were born preterm to women taking vitamin C.
Professor Ian Young from the Centre for Public Health, Queen’s School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences said: “Dietary intervention rich in various antioxidants might have benefits that cannot be replicated by individual supplements. Alternatively, prescription of antioxidant vitamins at 8–22 weeks’ gestation might be too late to affect the pathological process for most patients with diabetes.”
“In principle, the notion that oxidative stress is implicated in the cause and development of pre-eclampsia remains plausible, but the benefit of vitamin supplementation might be limited to women with vitamin depletion; however, this idea needs confirmation.”
Baha M Sibai from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, said: “The causes of pre-eclampsia might be multi-factorial. Some cases might be caused by immunological factors, others by dietary factors, and others because of pre-existing medical conditions, or by a combination of these factors. Therefore any single intervention is unlikely to be effective in prevention.”
The research is being presented at the American Diabetes Association meeting in Florida this weekend. The article will be published online first in The Lancet.
Researchers at Queen’s University Belfast have secured funding to investigate ways of preventing vision loss in premature babies.
Fight for Sight has awarded the researchers £92,000 for the study which aims to find a therapy that will protect the eyes of premature babies from the damaging effects of the high oxygen levels needed by premature babies.
Recent advances in neonatal care mean survival rates of premature babies, and especially babies born before 28 weeks, have increased considerably. These babies are very vulnerable and dependent upon high oxygen for survival, yet paradoxically can suffer damage to their eyes as a result.
The name of this condition is Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) and is a major cause of visual impairment and blindness in young children.
The three year research programme is being supervised by Dr Denise McDonald and Dr Tom Gardiner at Queen’s. The leader of the project, Dr McDonald, explained that the levels of oxygen given to the premature babies can at times be detrimental to their developing eyesight.
“Oxygen given at high levels is damaging to the delicate blood vessels in the eye and can lead to permanent vision loss. The aim of this research is to investigate ways to protect these vessels from the effects of high oxygen in order to preserve sight in premature babies.”
The condition occurs in two stages, as Dr McDonald explained: “In phase one, exposure of premature infants to high oxygen damages the immature retinal blood vessels, resulting in the light sensitive cells in the retina becoming starved when the oxygen treatment is discontinued. During the second phase of the disease, in an attempt to rescue the tissue, there is an overgrowth of new blood vessels that break out of the retina and invade the clear gel at the back of the eye. In that situation the blood vessels may bleed and cause scarring that leads to permanent loss of vision.”
“Current treatments focus on the second phase with limited success and significant side effects. The aim of our research is to find a therapy that will protect the vessels in phase one so that the second sight threatening phase of the condition is prevented.”
Globally the incidence of the disease shows evidence of a resurgence due to improvements in neonatal care in low to middle income countries and the overall increased survival of very young babies.
New research by Queen’s University funded by the Public Health Agency has revealed the quality of treatment for cancer patients in Northern Ireland has improved, despite the number of cases increasing.
The research is contained in three reports launched today (Wednesday 2 June) by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry (NICR) at Queen’s. The reports examine cancer care and outcomes for patients diagnosed with either prostate, breast or colorectal cancer between 1996 and 2006, across Northern Ireland. These together account for over 3000 cancers each year.
The reports highlight the need for continued work to prevent these diseases but points to improvements such as more centralised treatment, closer working between clinicians, early diagnosis and better treatment options as having had a significant impact on positive patient outcomes.
The quality and breadth of data gathered by the NICR team for the reports is such that it is to be used in a global benchmarking programme looking at reasons for differences in cancer survival rates in 14 international areas including several states of Australia, Canadian provinces, Norway, Sweden, Wales, England and Northern Ireland.
Dr Anna Gavin, Director of the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry and co-author of the Registry reports, said: “The Northern Ireland Registry’s work at Queen’s focuses on monitoring cancers occurring in the population including their care and outcome.
“Such analysis is vitally important as it can highlight increasing service demands, inequalities and areas for further improvement. We work with clinicians and service providers to influence those who make the decisions about how patients with cancer are treated. It is rare for a country to have such depth and quality of data, and as a result our work has been recognised internationally. It will now be used as part of a global benchmarking tool which could help identify aspects of services which improve cancer survival and so save lives.
“Crucially, our work is carried out alongside the clinicians on the ground through the Northern Ireland Cancer Network. We bring to their attention any areas of concern, and, of course, those areas which are working well. The collation and examination of data such as this is vital and we are pleased to say this reflects improved services being provided to patients in Northern Ireland.”
Dr Gavin also feels the latest reports should help reassure people who have fears about cancer: “Survival rates for breast cancer patients diagnosed in 2006 were excellent and have improved from 2001 and 1996. Observed survival was 94.3 per cent after one year and 90.6 per cent after two years. In 1996 these figures were 91.0 per cent and 84.5 per cent respectively. More patients are gaining access to diagnostic tests, and for breast cancer over twice as many women were having chemotherapy in 2006 compared with 1996, with increases also in radiotherapy and the availability of reconstructive surgery after treatment.”
The reports also illustrates an unprecedented change in health care delivery, with professionals involved in cancer care across Northern Ireland working together to bring real changes to the lives of those with the disease.
Dr Gavin added: “We have excellent facilities at the Cancer Centre and Cancer Units and there is now a more joined-up approach to patient care with, for example, the centralisation of breast cancer services in each Trust area. Another important step forward is that we now have better communications between health care professionals and their patients. And alongside this there is an increased use of multidisciplinary team meetings attended by a range of healthcare staff dealing with patients.
"There has been a doubling in the number of patients being treated for prostate cancer in Northern Ireland over the 10 years examined in the report. This is explained by the increased use of diagnostic tests such as PSA. The services however have continued to provide a good service despite increased demand. Treatments for prostate cancer are however not without serious side effects. The NICR has recently received a major three year grant from the ‘Prostate Cancer Charity’ to study the side effects of this treatment and effects on quality of life. The study will begin in late 2010.”
Dr Gavin has also welcomed improved survival for patients with rectal cancer. She said: “This improvement reflects changes in service organisation, improvements in investigation with increased use of MRI and CT scans, changes in surgical practice and increased use of radiotherapy.”
Volunteers are to have chocolate delivered to their homes and be encouraged to eat 50g of it every day for eight weeks as part of a new research study.
Researchers at Queen's, funded by Northern Ireland Chest, Heart & Stroke and the NI Research and Development Office, are to study 110 people with high blood pressure for the opening stage of a three-year project starting in August.
The aim is to discover if a high fruit and vegetable diet incorporating dark chocolate and berries - which are all rich in important compounds called polyphenols - is better for the cardiovascular system than a diet low in fruit and vegetables.
Dr Pascal McKeown from Queen’s School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences who is leading the study, said: "The important thing to stress is that the chocolate we will be using will be very high in cocoa - at least 70 per cent. Standard milk chocolate has nothing like the polyphenol content of dark chocolate.
"One group of patients will be put on a low polyphenol diet - probably the average UK diet, since most people tend to eat only two portions of fruit and vegetables per day. Another group will be encouraged to eat six portions of fruit and vegetables, including one portion of berries, each day, together with the 50g of dark chocolate. We will examine people's blood vessel health and the stickiness of their blood at the start and end of the study to discover whether a diet rich in polyphenols can reduce the risk of developing heart disease."
Andrew Dougal, Chief Executive of NI Chest, Heart & Stroke (NICHS), said: "This is a great example of high quality research which has the potential to benefit first and foremost the people of Northern Ireland, but also has applications further afield. We hope it will provide a solid evidence base for fine-tuning the government's advice on healthy eating."
NICHS has provided funding of £32,000 for the project. One of the researchers, Dr Rebecca Noad, has also secured a Fellowship award from the Department of Health's Research and Development Office.
A Queen’s researcher has been awarded funding from Breast Cancer Campaign to further investigate the role of the BCRA1 gene in the development of the disease.
Dr Konstantin Panov from the School of Biological Sciences and Centre for Cancer Research & Cell Biology at Queen’s has been awarded a £20,000 pilot grant. The grant forms part of £5 million awarded by Breast Cancer Campaign in 2009.
Dr Panov believes that the BCRA1 gene could be crucial in a process called ribosome production. Ribosomes are produced in large numbers when cells become cancerous and are vital as they generate molecules required to help them grow and multiply. This pilot project aims to establish the role of the BRCA1 gene in this process.
Dr Panov will study breast cancer cells grown in the laboratory that either have no BRCA1 gene or one that doesn’t work well. He will investigate the effect this has on the cells’ ability to produce molecules that are building blocks for the ribosomes; enabling him to determine at what stage BRCA1 could be involved.
Dr Panov said: “I am grateful to Breast Cancer Campaign for this grant. I hope the study will provide vital knowledge about the BRCA1 gene that could help us stop ribosome production spiraling out of control and causing cells to become cancerous.”
Arlene Wilkie, Director of Research and Policy, Breast Cancer Campaign said: “There are many genes involved in breast cancer development and we need to find out their role in starting the disease in the first place. This pilot grant could be the first step in finding urgently needed new treatments to help beat breast cancer and increase the chances of survival for thousands of people.”
Researchers at Queen’s have discovered a link between sugar intake in the teenage years and risk factors for diabetes and heart disease in later life.
The findings were announced at the Diabetes UK annual conference in Liverpool earlier this month by Dr Steven Hunter, an Honorary Senior Lecturer at Queen’s and Consultant in Endocrinology and Diabetes at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
For the first time, the Queen’s researchers have extended their observations to cover childhood. Dr Hunter said: “Other studies have investigated the impact of high sugar intake in adulthood on health, but this study extends the observation to childhood. This means we can look towards planning preventative strategies.
“What this study emphasises is that there may be long-term consequences of an unhealthy diet and lifestyle in childhood, and that efforts to improve health need to start in childhood to try and stop the development of diabetes and heart disease.”
The group of volunteers involved in the research were initially studied in adolescence and then followed up 10 years later when the effect of diet on heart and bone health was examined.
Dr Hunter explained: “Individuals with higher intakes of sugar had higher blood sugar levels and greater insulin resistance, a feature which contributes to the development of diabetes and heart disease, compared to individuals who had a lower sugar intake. This association was not related to total calorie intake, body weight or activity levels.
“In order to examine the association between sugar intake and risk of diabetes further, more robust prospective randomised studies are being carried out in overweight and obese adults.”
Those involved in the research were Dr Michelle McKinley, Dr Jayne Woodside and Professor Ian Young from the Nutrition and Metabolism group, Queen’s University Belfast and Dr Anthony Lewis from the Royal Victoria Hospital.
A Queen’s researcher has been crowned ‘Young Investigator of the Year’ by The British Lung Foundation. The award was made at the annual British Thoracic Society’s conference which sees scientists from around the globe come together to discuss current respiratory research.
Dr Surendran Thavagnanam from the Centre for Infection and Immunity was awarded an £800 prize fund for his work, which investigated the use of nasal cells as surrogates for lung cells when studying inflammation in children’s lungs.
His work was significantly interesting as cells from the nose are easier to obtain for research than lung cells. Dr Thavagnanam’s team found significant differences between the nasal and lung cells both in normal and asthmatic children, and have therefore questioned the use of nasal cells for investigating asthma in the future.
Dr Thavagnanam said: “I am delighted to be announced as young investigator of the year. I have been working on my research for the last two years and it was extremely interesting as there are not many studies that look into asthma in children. I’m very keen to pursue a career in academic medicine and so, by winning this award, I have proved that I can confidently work in this field. I’m now looking forward to building on the results that I have produced so far.”
In conjunction with the British Thoracic Society and the British Association for Lung Research, the British Lung Foundation organises the Young Investigator of the Year competition to find young researchers who have conducted innovative studies. Researchers were invited to submit applications, which were judged and narrowed down to just six. Six of these candidates present their work at the BTS winter meeting to a panel of scientific experts and a winner is picked on the day.
The application process for this year’s Young Investigator of the Year is now open and closes at midnight on Thursday 29 July 2010. Please see the following website for further information www.brit-thoracic.org.uk/education-hub/winter-meeting-2010/abstract-submission.aspx
Cancer researchers at Queen’s have benefitted from the sale of Mother's Day cards thanks to funding of £15,000 from Hallmark’s Cards for a Cure™ to support the Breast Cancer Campaign.
The campaign, which has seen £1 million being donated to research projects, has now pledged £15,000 to Queen’s for a project led by Dr Jennifer Quinn and her PhD Student, Elisabeth Lamers, from the University’s Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology.
The project is investigating why some people are resistant to chemotherapy for breast cancer treatment, with a hope of one day being able to tailor treatment to the patients that it will definitely benefit.
Dr Quinn said: “This is a huge sum of money and we are extremely grateful to Hallmark for continuing to support Breast Cancer Campaign, which in turn benefits the important work that we do.
“With previous Breast Cancer Campaign funding, we discovered that people who have a working copy of the breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1 do not respond well to some chemotherapy drugs. This new research is therefore hoping to find out why this happens so that patients could be tested for this gene prior to receiving chemotherapy, to ensure only people who are likely to respond to treatment actually receive it.”
Tamsyn Johnston-Hughes from Hallmark Cards, said: “Breast Cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and affects many thousands of women and a number of men every year, as well as impacting on the lives of friends and family.
“It is for this reason that the research being carried out by Queen’s is significant as it may one day help to find a cure for people with breast cancer worldwide. Our Cards for a Cure™ campaign donation directly benefits this on-the-ground research and is vital to ensuring that it can continue.”
Dr Damian Fogarty
Dr Damian Fogarty, Senior Lecturer in Renal Medicine at Queen’s and a Centre for Public Health principal investigator, has been appointed Chairman of the United Kingdom Renal Registry.
The Renal Registry is the National Audit arm of the UK Renal Association and undertakes quarterly reviews of activity and performance standards which are published in its annual report. It has 18 permanent staff covering database roles, statistical analyses and project management in addition to research students.
The chair is the outward face of the Registry, leading the management team strategically and is responsible for liaising with a wide range of national bodies such as the Department of Health and the NHS Information Centre on matters related to kidney disease.
Commenting on this role Dr Fogarty said: “This type of work highlights the huge potential of integration across the higher education and health care sectors. Such projects are often impossible to do away from the NHS but need the protected time and academic resources that Universities can offer to healthcare.”
Dr Fogarty will spend on average one day a week in the Registry offices which are housed beside colleagues and collaborators in the University of Bristol/North Bristol Trust. He hopes to develop further collaboration with the world-renowned Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol.
More information on the Centre for Public Health at Queen's can be found online at www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/CentreforPublicHealth/
Professor Frank Kee
A new incentive-based loyalty card scheme has the potential to improve the health of thousands of people in East Belfast, according to those behind a similar scheme currently being rolled out in Manchester.
Experts from The Points4Life Scheme – a collaborative effort between the NHS and Manchester City Council – are in Belfast today to discuss how the scheme could be piloted in Northern Ireland thanks to a partnership between the UKCRN Centre of Excellence for Public Health (NI) and Business in the Community.
At today’s event, community representatives and health experts will discuss the potential for the Manchester model to be developed in East Belfast, and how the area’s regeneration through the Connswater Community Greenway initiative offers clear opportunities for encouraging and improving levels of physical activity.
Professor Frank Kee, from Queen’s University Belfast, Director of the UKCRC Centre of Excellence for Public Health (NI), said: “We hope that a pilot scheme in the Connswater area could work in the same way as many of the well-known loyalty schemes in the market today and along similar lines to the Points4Life scheme in Manchester. Members of the public who join the scheme would use their loyalty card to collect points which could be redeemable for “healthy” products and services. Local businesses in the East Belfast community could also benefit from having increased interaction with local customers”.
“If we are to meet the challenges posed by the rising tide of obesity, at a community level we must increase our levels of physical activity. Though public health practitioners are showing the necessary leadership, the challenge requires concerted action across all sectors. Creating a platform for incentive-based loyalty card schemes for positive behaviour change will, hopefully, deliver lessons applicable across the UK and Ireland”.
Business in the Community, through its Business Action on Health campaign, is working with employers to improve workforce health – both as a benefit to the business and to wider society.
Tanya Kennedy, Workplace Director with Business in the Community said “People spend more than a third of their time at work, so it makes sense to communicate with them through the workplace about the benefits of good health and wellbeing.
“Physical activity is a key aspect of wellbeing and if we can find innovative ways to engage employees and incentivise them to improve their fitness through loyalty schemes such as this – we have a duty to explore them further and learn from good practice in other areas.”
To find out more about the Points4Life scheme, visit http://www.points4lifeojeu.co.uk/index.php
Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students Professor Ellen Douglas-Cowie and Sentinus Chair Jim Stewart prescribe Medics in Primary Schools for Cairnshill Primary School pupils Sarah Dawson, Lara Horner and Jack Diver
Hundreds of primary school pupils from the greater Belfast area are set to benefit from healthy living advice, thanks to medical students from Queen's.
The 2010 Medics In Primary Schools’ scheme, which takes place over 12 weeks, is being run in partnership with Sentinus, the largest provider of science and technology programmes to schools in Northern Ireland. As part of the initiative, primary schoolchildren study four topics including healthy skin, heart and lungs, brain and general well-being.
Professor Paddy Johnston, Dean of the University’s School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, said: “Medics in Primary Schools is a unique teaching programme offered by second year medical students at Queen’s. We are delighted to welcome Sentinus as our collaborators for this year’s programme. Medics in Primary Schools offer both partners an opportunity to promote engagement in science-based subjects among P7 pupils in schools in the Greater Belfast Area.
“During the next 12 weeks medical students will guide schoolchildren through a health education programme that will focus on the heart, lungs, skin and the brain. The medical students will act as positive role models encouraging primary school pupils to consider a career in medicine or science. The students, in turn, will gain experience in communicating information to schoolchildren from a variety of backgrounds.”
Jim Stewart, Chairman of Sentinus, said: “Throughout the programme the primary school children gain awareness on a number of health related issues – they also get exposure to inspiring role models who can help shape decisions regarding their future career. The Medics in Primary Schools programme grows in popularity year on year with more schools wanting to get involved. It offers fantastic learning opportunities for both the graduates and young students. ”
The programme is offered as a student selected module within the medical students’ second year course. Students have a placement one afternoon a week throughout February, March and April in a primary school, during which they deliver a short science and health education programme to P6 or P7 pupils.
The MIPS Teaching and Learning Guide can be downloaded at www.sentinus.co.uk/product.php?id=35.
Professor Peter Passmore
Time magazine rated the discovery of two genes which may contribute to the memory-losing disorder at number nine in their annual list of medical breakthroughs.
Contributing to this research, academics from the Centre for Public Health at Queen’s were involved with the Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) as part of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust Genetic Consortium in the largest-ever study of its kind into the illness.
The international study, which received major funding from the Medical Research Council (MRC), is a significant step forward in understanding how Alzheimer’s develops and opens up new areas for further research into potential treatment and genetic screening.
Results from the research, which involved analysing the DNA from over 16,000 people over two years, show the genes CLU and PICALM can play a direct role in the risk of developing Sporadic Late Onset Alzheimer’s disease. Until now only one gene, APOE4, had been clearly identified as a potential risk factor.
Queen's Professor Peter Passmore and his colleagues Dr David Craig, Dr Bernadette McGuinness and Dr Stephen Todd, were involved in the study and were all co-authors on a Nature Genetics paper revealing the findings. Professor Passmore was a co-applicant on the initial grant from the Wellcome Trust.
He said: “Over the past 15 years the team at Queen’s has been involved in a significant amount of groundbreaking research into dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
“This has led to the assembly of a significant database of genetic material which is much sought after for national and international collaborative efforts to study the genetic aspects of Alzheimer’s disease in particular. Queen’s plays a very significant role in this consortium and is intrinsically involved in proposed follow up studies.
“The results of this study will now help focus the future directions of research into Alzheimer’s disease.
“We are delighted that work we have contributed to has been featured in a global news magazine.”
The Medical Research Council invested £1.74 million in the programme of research, alongside funding of £1.3m from the Wellcome Trust. There was also financial support from the Welsh Assembly Government and the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, among others.
The research also involved scientists from universities in London, Cambridge, Nottingham, Southampton, Manchester, Oxford, Bristol and Wales, who collaborated with German, Belgian, Greek and American institutions.
Professor Frank Kee
Increases in levels of physical activity by residents in the Connswater area of east Belfast will be the target of a new five year £800,000 Queen’s University study launched on Tuesday 24th November.
It is hoped that by encouraging members of the community to do more exercise they will reduce their risk of serious conditions including obesity, heart disease, cancer and depression.
Under the PARC project - Physical Activity and the Rejuvenation of Connswater - researchers from the Centre of Excellence of Public Health NI, based at Queen’s, will consult with the East Belfast Partnership and community groups to find out what can be done to help people become more active.
PARC, funded by the National Prevention Research Initiative which supports research on health behaviour, aims to help community groups introduce new initiatives to encourage people to be more active. These could include a ‘walk to school’ club and other neighbourhood walking schemes, better amenities for cyclists and guidance to local employers about how the working environment can help support people taking a little more exercise.
The announcement comes after the East Belfast Partnership’s Connswater Community Greenway, was awarded a grant from the Big Lottery Fund, the Department of Social Development and Belfast City Council in 2007, totalling £32m, to carry out a major environmental improvement and rejuvenation project, connecting 379 acres of public open space, building 43 bridges and 19 kilometres of cycles and walkways. It aims to give around 40,000 people living nearby, and thousands of visitors more opportunities for exercise and recreation and support for a healthier lifestyle. PARC’s role will be to evaluate the effects of the project on people’s health.
The main focus of the research will be face-to-face surveys with nearly 2,000 people living in the Greenway area. One will be conducted in early 2010 and another in 2013/4, to coincide with the beginning and end of the Greenway construction.
Questions will include some on the participants’ physical activity and attitudes to exercise, health, smoking and drinking habits, as well as those on their social life, housing, employment and education.
Professor Frank Kee, the Director of the Centre of Excellence for Public Health, said: “This is a groundbreaking study looking at the effects of the built environment on physical activity and the health of people in east Belfast. It will involve the creation of new opportunities for physical activity through the improvement of physical amenities and green space in the area and a variety of innovative community initiatives.
“One of the strengths of this exciting project is the partnership between an international team of researchers, the East Belfast Partnership and members of the local community.
“Research shows that increased physical activity can help reduce the risks of many diseases, including obesity, heart disease and cancer.
“As well as helping to inform policy on future redevelopment projects, we anticipate the study will have direct benefits to the communities in east Belfast, including new amenities and an increased range of opportunities for physical activity delivered by local groups. These will be designed according to what the local community wants, and so we hope that local people will come on board.
“The results of the project will help other groups across the UK to develop their own plans to promote more active lifestyles.”
Project Manager of the Connswater Community Greenway Wendy Langham added: “In addition to the improvements to the physical environment, the Connswater Community Greenway will provide opportunities for everyone, young and old, families, commuters and visitors to embrace a more active lifestyle.
“Improved, accessible green and open spaces, cycle and walking paths alongside rivers running through the heart of east Belfast will be a catalyst for the community to enjoy the natural environment, right on their doorstep.”
Lord Mayor, Councillor Naomi Long, acknowledged the importance of the study and welcomed the opportunity it offers to involve Belfast City Council.
"Hopefully our involvement will maximise the impact of the Connswater Community Greenway project on the health and wellbeing of local people.
"Congratulations to Professor Frank Kee and the team of researchers from Queens University, as well as the wide range of partners involved in this initiative. We can all look forward to the results of this study being published in due course, and there is no doubt that this will make a significant contribution to the design of future initiatives and services in our city".
Male infertility and tackling falling birth rates across Europe will be among the topics addressed at this year’s British Andrology Society’s annual conference at Queen’s.
World leaders in the field of andrology – the study of male reproduction – will meet at Queen’s this week (Thursday and Friday) to discuss the latest developments in the field of fertility including the potential to create artificial sperm from stem cells.
The conference organiser, Professor Sheena Lewis from the Centre of Public Health in the University’s School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, says research into male fertility is vastly underfunded.
Professor Lewis said: “Male infertility is now a public health issue. Infertility affects one in six couples around Europe and the male partner is responsible for 40% of these problems.
“DNA damage to sperm is a major cause of male infertility. “We know sperm DNA damage is closely associated with all fertility check points and also longer times to get pregnant and increased pregnancy loss.”
Over the past 50 years birth rates have declined at an unprecedented rate so that instead of the 2.1 children a couple necessary to maintain population replacement current rates stand at 1.5 births per woman. Only a minimal increase to 1.6 is expected by 2030.
Last year the European Parliament acknowledged for the first time that falling fertility rates were a major cause of demographic decline.
There are many possible reasons for the fall in the European birth rate including changes in women’s roles in society and the choice of some couples to be childfree. But research shows that European couples of child-bearing age would like to have more children but are unable to.
As social trends have not altered significantly over the past 50 years researchers, say it is more likely that falling birth rates are impacted more by an increase in infertility. Over mortality and migration, infertility is the major determinant of Europe’s future population.
Professor Lewis explained: “We are trying to develop diagnostic tests to give couples more information about the causes of their infertility and how to improve their chances of a successful conception.
“We need to do this through multi-centred trials and this can only be done with increased government funding.
“Sperm DNA can be damaged by lifestyle factors including smoking, alcohol, drugs and obesity
Sperm DNA tests have a huge potential as they can determine the basis of damage so we can find ways to protect it.”
A major component of the solution to falling birth rates is through assisted reproductive technology (ART) but Professor Lewis says that for ART success rates to be improved much more research, including the prognostic sperm tests, needed to be carried out.
“Research into infertility has not been deemed strategic to health services or governments over the past three decades and so had been dogged by lack of funding.
“This is illustrated by UK statistics where research councils or charities spend less than one per cent on reproductive research compared with nine per cent on cardiovascular research and 27 per cent on cancer studies.
“Stemming the tide with ART techniques including IVF and ICSI – where one sperm is injected into an egg - will make a significant contribution to tackling the falling birth rates.”
Individualised radiotherapy treatment based on a person’s genetic make up could soon become a reality thanks to work being carried out at Queen’s and other institutions which is being funded by Breast Cancer Campaign.
Professor Kevin Prise, Associate Director of the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, has been awarded a three year project grant by the charity to study how genes are involved in the effectiveness of radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer.
The grant, worth more than £160,000, is part of £2 million awarded to 20 projects in the UK and Ireland.
Radiotherapy is given to women with breast cancer to destroy any remaining breast cancer cells after surgery and limit the chance of the disease returning. However, it is believed that a range of genes including BRCA1, BRCA2 and Fanconi Anaemia work together to prevent the cells being destroyed by radiotherapy, as they appear to repair the damage caused to the DNA of breast cancer cells.
In the laboratory at Queen’s, Professor Prise and his team will treat breast cancer cells with radiotherapy to see why this is happening and find out why these genes have an impact on the success of the treatment.
Professor Prise said: “We are grateful for this funding from Breast Cancer Campaign. We hope our findings will lead to methods to predict which patients will gain limited benefit from this treatment. The course of radiotherapy could then be adapted to the individual to ensure they receive a more effective dose.”
Arlene Wilkie, Director of Research and Policy, Breast Cancer Campaign said: “There are many different genes which are important in both the development and treatment of breast cancer. “Identifying them and finding out more about their role is a vital area of breast cancer research and we are delighted to be funding this project.”
