New research discovery
Prof. Steve Clifford, said that in the future, patients might not need to go through such aggressive treatment. "This new discovery allows us to undertake studies to see how we could use these insights to personalise treatments according to the biological features of each patient's tumour,"
Blue Skye Thinking funds Gemma Llargués Sistac, who has a degree in genetics, to assist Prof. Steve Clifford. The paediatric brain tumour research group at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, led by Prof. Clifford, Dr. Williamson and Prof. Bailey, comprises over 20 scientists and clinicians working towards a better understanding of the biological basis of nervous system tumours, and translating this knowledge into new and better therapeutic strategies.
Gemma Llargués Sistac said "Blue Skye Thinking is a Charity that understands the struggle that research groups encounter when trying to establish new ways to treat childhood cancer. Supporting research as the charity does, brings an opportunity to develop new therapies to improve survival rates of children with brain tumours, which can be translated into better quality of life and reduced toxicities related to therapy in surviving patients." Miss Sistac is now following up targets that were implicated by the study to translate these discoveries into frontline treatment.
Dr Mark Gaze, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) Tweeted, "Some good news here - but the pipeline is a long one. Clinical research to validate theoretical advances takes time." It also takes funding which is why Blue Skye Thinking is determined to fight on to reach our next target.
We would like to thank all those who have been inspired and motivated by Skye and who have helped us get to this point. We truly couldn't have done it without you.