Two exciting new research projects aimed at developing new
treatments for prostate cancer are to take place at the University
of Bradford.
Funded by The Prostate Cancer Charity, these innovative new
projects aim to develop drugs which are significantly more
effective in fighting the disease compared to current treatments
available.
Taking place at the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, based at
Bradford University, the first of the two projects is led by Dr
Jason Gill. Dr Gill and his team received £257,816 to develop over
the next three years a ground-breaking new drug which travels
directly into the heart of the cancer. The drug, which remains
inactive in the body until it comes into contact with the cancer,
then releases a toxic chemical which will attack the tumour.
Dr Gill said: "This new funding will allow us to accelerate our
efforts into helping to improve the treatment options for men
living with the most advanced stages of prostate cancer. We are
really excited to have received this grant from The Prostate Cancer
Charity, as it has allowed us to further build upon our successful
work in developing new drugs which help to tackle this
disease."
An additional grant of £49,992 has been awarded to Dr Helen
Sheldrake, to help develop a treatment to stop advanced prostate
cancer from spreading to and growing in the bone - a process which
causes pain and disability for men with the disease.
The research will seek to develop small molecules which block a
particular type of protein - β3 integrins - involved in allowing
prostate cancer to survive, grow, and spread through the blood
stream and into the bones.
Dr Sheldrake said: "We
believe that the β3 integrins
will be a very effective target for treatment and has the potential
to significantly increase a man's quality of life. We are delighted
to receive pilot funding from The Prostate Cancer Charity which
allows us to start testing the hypothesis."
The grants have been awarded, as part of The Prostate Cancer
Charity's ongoing program of investment in research to help tackle
the disease. This year, the Charity has awarded over £2 million, to
institutions across the UK.
Dr Kate Holmes, Research Manager at The Prostate Cancer Charity
said: "We are incredibly excited to be funding two such
groundbreaking projects at the University of Bradford. These
projects were selected as we believe that they will be able to
deliver key results which will help provide real benefit to men
living in the very final stages of this disease, for whom very few
treatments remain. We are looking forward to working closely with
both teams and eagerly await the results of the studies."