Student to present findings to Parliament

Peng Liu, a PhD student from the University’s School of Applied Sciences, has been invited to the ‘SET For Britain’ event thanks to his research into using an anti-alcoholism drug for treatment of brain tumours.

The research involves using disulfiram to treat Glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive and deadly forms of brain tumour, to kill cancer cells.

SET For Britain is a poster competition involving approximately 180 early stage or early career researchers judged by professional and academic experts. The contest will take place on Monday 18 March in the House of Commons.

Peng was shortlisted from hundreds of applicants to appear in front of Parliament, and his poster about his research will be judged against dozens of other scientists in the only national competition of its kind.

Peng will be greeted in the House by Paul Uppal, MP for Wolverhampton South West.

On presenting to Parliament, Peng said: “I am very grateful and proud to be chosen by SET For Britain to present my research. I am also grateful to the committee for giving me the opportunity to demonstrate our research results to the policy makers in this country.”

Andrew Miller MP, Chairman of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, said: “This annual competition is an important date in the parliamentary calendar because it gives MPs an opportunity to speak to a wide range of the country’s best young researchers. These early career scientists are the architects of our future and SET For Britain is politicians’ best opportunity to meet them and understand their work.”

Peng’s research has been entered into the Biological and Biomedical Sciences session of the competition, which will end in a gold, silver and bronze prize-giving ceremony.

Judged by leading academics, the gold medallist receives £3,000, while silver and bronze receive £2,000 and £1,000 respectively.

John Pierce, Chief Bioscientist at BP, sponsors of the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Gold award, said: “BP has supported SET For Britain for several years now and we continue to be impressed by the ingenuity and dedication of the UK’s young scientists.”

ENDS

For further information about the event, images, or interview opportunities, please contact Joe Winters from the Institute of Physics on 020 7470 4815 or at joseph.winters@iop.org

SET for Britain was established by Dr Eric Wharton in 1997. Following his untimely death in 2007, the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, with support from The Royal Academy of Engineering, The Institute of Physics, the Society of Biology, The Royal Society of Chemistry, The Physiological Society and the Society of Chemical Industry are working together to further his legacy.

The event is made possible this year by industry sponsors BP, Airbus/EADS, INEOS, AgChemAccess, Essar, the Institute of Biomedical Science, GAMBICA and WMG.

Date Issued: Thursday 14 March 2013