Finding ways to detect oesophageal cancer sooner
Cancer types:
Oesophageal cancer
Project period:
–
Research institute:
University of Cambridge
Award amount:
£239,214
Location:
United Kingdom
Dr Maria Alcolea aims to identify biomarkers for oesophageal cancer that could be used to detect the disease early.
Meet the scientist
Dr Maria Alcolea is a Principle Investigator in the Wellcome - MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute at the University of Cambridge. After receiving her PhD in 2007 she gained experience in cancer and stem cell biology at Bart's Cancer Institute in London and the Hutchinson/MRC Research Centre before starting her own group in 2015.
The science
There are around half a million people diagnosed worldwide each year with oesophageal cancer. Survival rates have seen little improvement over decades of research and today only around 1 in 8 people will survive for 10 years or more following diagnosis. One of the main reasons for the high mortality from oesophageal cancer is that the disease is often diagnosed at an advanced stage.
Dr Maria Alcolea at the University of Cambridge, England, wants to uncover new ways to diagnose oesophageal cancer early, when the patient has the best chance of survival. To do this, her team are studying the molecular processes that occur as oesophageal cancer develops. Through this work, they hope to identify molecular markers that can be used to detect oesophageal cancer as early as possible.
We are extremely grateful to generous supporters that keep on contributing to charities like Worldwide Cancer Research. These days, when austerity has impacted so much in science, it is encouraging to have faithful supporters that believe in what science can provide to society. This long-term investment in pioneering projects is essential in order to improve the outcome of cancer and most importantly to benefit the quality of life of patients suffering from this devastating disease.
Active United Kingdom
Oesophageal cancer
By better understanding how oesophageal cancer first emerges researchers hope to find new ways to prevent this disease and improve survival rates.
Researcher: Dr Maria Alcolea
Understanding the role of mutation interactions in oesophageal cancer
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Oesophageal cancer
By comparing oesophageal cancer cells to healthy cells researchers hope to find clues towards much needed new treatments and improve the poor survival rates.
Researcher: Dr Denes Hnisz
Unravelling the genetic background of oesophageal cancer
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Oesophageal cancer
Researchers hope to reveal ways to diagnose oesophageal cancer sooner and help treatments work better by better understanding the earliest stages of the disease.
Researcher: Dr Diana Blaydon
Revealing the earliest signs of oesophageal cancer