Scientists get funding for research into UK’s biggest cancer killer

SCIENTISTS in Yorkshire have been awarded new funding for research into the UK’s biggest cancer killer.

The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation will fund the £57,000 project at Sheffield University, which will look at improving 
the way experts predict the risk 
of someone developing the disease.

There are several approaches which currently analyse risks of developing the illness among them looking at if a patient has smoked or if there is a family history of the disease.

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However, this will be the first time researchers have looked at whether combining the models could give better predictions.

It is hoped more accurate predictions could ultimately support the introduction of life-saving screening programmes, similar to those already in place for breast cancer.

Dawn Teare, of Sheffield University, said: “Better risk models will allow screening and chemoprevention strategies to target specific groups of individuals most likely to benefit from more invasive screening.”

Despite being the biggest killer, lung cancer receives only seven per cent of cancer research funding.

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Cancer specialist David Gilligan, from Addenbrookes and Papworth Hospitals in Cambridge, who is head of the charity’s grants committee, said: “We are aiming to increase the amount of life-saving lung cancer research we are funding but we can not do it alone. So I would like to take this opportunity to ask anyone affected by this dreadful disease to please consider making a donation to our lung cancer research and help us to save lives.”

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