2009 Press Releases
New Funding to Boost Breast Cancer Research
11.03.2009
Professor Rosemary O’Connor, Department of Biochemistry, UCC is among a group of researchers in Ireland who will receive funding from leading research charity, Breast Cancer Campaign.
11.03.2009
Professor Rosemary O’Connor, Department of Biochemistry, UCC is among a group of researchers in Ireland who will receive funding from leading research charity, Breast Cancer Campaign.
The announcement of funding of more than €500,000 for three projects in Ireland, including one in Cork, forms part of €3 million awarded to 29 research projects throughout the UK and Ireland and represents a major opportunity to tap into a talented group of researchers who can make a real difference to the lives of people with breast cancer.
Professor Rosemary O’Connor has been awarded more than €200,000 to carry out a three year study looking at the role of two molecules, RACK1 and Mystique, which are believed to work in partnership to enable breast cancer cells to spread around the body (metastasis).
In Ireland over 2,300 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year and around 700 women will die, primarily as a result of metastatic spread of cancer.
Professor O’Connor and her colleagues will study what role these molecules play in breast cancer cells becoming metastatic and investigate whether treatments could be designed to stop the molecules from working, thereby preventing the cancer cells from spreading.
Professor O’Connor said, “I am grateful to Breast Cancer Campaign for funding my research and to be the one of the first scientists in Ireland to receive a grant from the charity is very exciting. I hope my project will provide vital information on how to stop the spread of breast cancer so that more lives can be saved.”
Arlene Wilkie, Director of Research and Policy, Breast Cancer Campaign said, “We are delighted to fund our first three projects in Ireland and believe these are the first of many. Our mission is to beat breast cancer and we hope the people of Ireland will help us by raising money so that more high quality, innovative research, such as Professor O’Connor’s, can be funded in the future.”
Picture: Professor Rosemary O'Connor
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Professor Rosemary O’Connor has been awarded more than €200,000 to carry out a three year study looking at the role of two molecules, RACK1 and Mystique, which are believed to work in partnership to enable breast cancer cells to spread around the body (metastasis).
In Ireland over 2,300 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year and around 700 women will die, primarily as a result of metastatic spread of cancer.
Professor O’Connor and her colleagues will study what role these molecules play in breast cancer cells becoming metastatic and investigate whether treatments could be designed to stop the molecules from working, thereby preventing the cancer cells from spreading.
Professor O’Connor said, “I am grateful to Breast Cancer Campaign for funding my research and to be the one of the first scientists in Ireland to receive a grant from the charity is very exciting. I hope my project will provide vital information on how to stop the spread of breast cancer so that more lives can be saved.”
Arlene Wilkie, Director of Research and Policy, Breast Cancer Campaign said, “We are delighted to fund our first three projects in Ireland and believe these are the first of many. Our mission is to beat breast cancer and we hope the people of Ireland will help us by raising money so that more high quality, innovative research, such as Professor O’Connor’s, can be funded in the future.”
Picture: Professor Rosemary O'Connor
1014MMcS