PhD student wins prestigious Chinese Government award

Peng Liu has recognised for excellence in his PhD studies in breast and brain cancer.

The Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Students Abroad celebrates the academic achievements of self-financing Chinese PhD students.

Peng, a third-year PhD student in the Research Institute in Healthcare Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, will receive the award at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in London on Monday April 28.

He has been involved in the development of a novel use of an anti-alcoholism drug disulfiram (DS) in the treatment of breast cancer under the supervision of Dr Weiguang Wang. His study demonstrated that DS destroys breast cancer cells and reverses anti-cancer drug resistance.

The work attracted a wide range of interest from different countries and contributed to the development of new therapies for cancer patients. It has also been developed into a worldwide scientific collaboration.

Professor John Darling, Dean of Research, said: “We are very proud of Peng. He has made an outstanding contribution to research at the University and this award is very well-deserved.”

Last year, Peng displayed his research findings to politicians at the Houses of Parliament. He was invited to the ‘SET For Britain’ event, thanks to his research into using disulfiram for the treatment of brain tumours.

Peng has also published more than five papers in international journals.

Xiaoming Liu, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in the UK, will present the award to Peng. In total, this award has been presented to 518 Chinese students pursing study abroad in 29 nations this year. Only 28 PhD students won this award in the UK, and Peng was the only one from a new university.

ENDS

For more information please contact Emma Pugh in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736.

Date Issued: April 24, 2012