Wolverhampton funding part of breast cancer research boost in UK and Ireland

In the UK, 26 new projects, including one in Wolverhampton, have benefited from a massive cash injection worth more than £2.3 million and for the first time in the charity’s history, over £450,000 has been awarded to scientists in Ireland.

Dr Angel Armesilla, Reader in Molecular Pharmacology at the , University of Wolverhampton, has been awarded a pilot grant worth £20,000 to study why chemotherapy fails to destroy some breast cancers.

On diagnosis of breast cancer a patient may be offered several forms of treatment including chemotherapy. Unfortunately around 40 per cent of breast cancers are resistant to chemotherapy and people will see their breast cancer return.

Previous research has shown that the interaction between two molecules, PMCA2 and calcineurin in breast cancer cells creates a chain of events that stops the chemotherapy from destroying the cancer cells. Dr Armesilla will investigate whether interfering with this process could improve the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to chemotherapy.

Dr Armesilla said: “I am grateful to Breast Cancer Campaign for funding my work which I hope will lead to making chemotherapy more effective and help improve the chances of survival for people with breast cancer.”

Arlene Wilkie, Director of Research and Policy, Breast Cancer Campaign, said: “Despite the unsteady economy, funding breast cancer research must remain a priority as more than 46,000 people are diagnosed with the disease in the UK each year and more than 12,500 will die.

“Research is already making a huge difference and we hope that by funding high quality, innovative projects such as Dr Armesilla’s, it will bring us ever closer to beating breast cancer.”

Further information

For further information, contact Vickie Woodward, Media Relations Officer, University of Wolverhampton on 01902 322736 or 07973 335112, or Claire Learner, Media Relations Officer, Breast Cancer Campaign, 020 7749 3705 email: clearner@breastcancercampaign.org

Notes to editors

• Breast Cancer Campaign aims to beat breast cancer by funding innovative world-class research to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure.
• Currently it supports 123 research projects, worth over £15 million, in 45 centres of excellence across the UK and Ireland.
• Breast Cancer Campaign has extended its grant programme to researchers working in the Republic of Ireland and funds three projects worth more than £460,000.
• Breast Cancer Campaign recently announced its plans to open the first breast cancer specific Tissue Bank in the UK.
• Further information at www.breastcancercampaign.org.