Today is World Cancer Day (WCD), which takes place every year on 4 February.
Founded in 2005, WCD is one singular initiative allowing cancer charities, researchers, health care workers, businesses and governments to unite in the fight against the global cancer epidemic.
Since last year’s WCD we’ve published a number of news stories highlighting the developments in cancer-related research here at the University.
From working to increase the survival times of lung and pancreatic cancer patients, using AI for digital pathology, to the launching of a new research centre to tackle the high number of Head and Neck Cancer cases in the area, we round up some of our cancer related news stories from the past 12 months.
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Head and Neck Cancer
Health partners from across the City Region came together in October for the launch of a new centre to help tackle high number of Head and Neck Cancer cases in the area. The Liverpool Head and Neck Centre will draw together world class research and medical expertise to provide the best possible results for Head and Neck cancer patients locally.
Eye Cancer
Eye cancer researchers gathered in Liverpool in December together with eye cancer patients, as part of a research consortium conference, which aims to improve outcomes for patients with metastatic uveal melanoma (UM).
Recognition
Two Professors from the University’s Institute of Translational Medicine were recognised for their contribution to the work of the North West Cancer Research (NWCR) at a special gala celebrating the charity’s 70th anniversary.
Lung Cancer
Liverpool has one of the highest mortality rates for lung cancer in England, and it’s also estimated that there’s over 6,000 people living with undiagnosed COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) across the city. However, an independent study published by the University of Liverpool and Queen Mary University London on the impact of Liverpool’s Healthy Lung ‘MOT’ clinics has found they are bucking that trend by finding more cases of lung cancer and COPD at an early stage, when it’s most treatable.
Research
Research, published in Biological Reviews and conducted by researchers from the University and Escola Superior de Ciências da Saúde (Brasília, Brazil) has found some type of cancers unique to humans may be a result of evolutionary accidents.
Proton Beam Therapy
Collaborative research conducted in Liverpool and Oxford, published in The Red Journal, identifies the specific cellular process that helps cells damaged as a result of proton beam therapy, repair themselves.
Investment
In the past 12 months researchers at the University have received millions of pounds worth of investment for cancer related research. Here are some of the research projects:
£2.17m boost for pancreatic cancer research – Read more
£10m government investment for AI and digital pathology – Read more
£450k boost for bowel cancer research in Liverpool – Read more