Teesside University academic wins "highly competitive" £100k grant for cancer research

An academic from Teesside University has been awarded £100k to fund essential brain cancer research, which aims to advance diagnosis and treatments.

Dr Sharel Peisan E, a chemistry lecturer from the School of Health & Life Sciences, will examine the nanoscale electrochemistry of brain cancer cells.

Using a multifunctional nanoscale electrochemical imaging platform, Dr E will be able to take a closer look at brain tumour cells and their processes to gain a better understanding of their biology. The technology uses tiny electrodes to gain an extremely close and detailed visualisation of the biology of living cells.

This research project aims to explore how brain cancer reacts to different therapies on a cellular level, which will be applied to improving or designing more effective treatments for cancer patients. It will also be able to provide insight into other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s in much the same way.

Dr E, who is based at Teesside University’s National Horizons Centre, explained: “Glioblastoma is one of the most devastating cancers, although its biology remains somewhat of a mystery in cancer research, with brain cancer cells being difficult to analyse using current methods of examination.

Dr E won the grant from the Academy of Medical Sciences as part of the “highly competitive” Springboard Award, which provides funding and career support for innovative bioscientists.

She added: “Opportunities to secure funding through excellent initiatives such as the Springboard Award are vital in the biosciences and healthcare sector, providing researchers with the means to conduct life-changing research which will have a real-world impact.

“I am delighted to have won the Springboard Award and feel very privileged that my research could play a role in improving the efficacy of cancer treatments for patients.”

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