World Cancer Day
This World Cancer Day (4 February) saw two NWCR funded institutions open their doors to the public for a day of education.
The team at North West Cancer Research Centre in Liverpool brought together local scientists, researchers and health and social care professionals with current patients, survivors and members of the public to celebrate the progress being made in diagnosis and treatment.
The day’s activities included a tour of a radiotherapy simulation suite before a line-up of presentations from professors and researchers across the University, led by Professor Sarah Coupland.
Over in North Wales at Bangor University, researchers and oncologists at the School of Medical Sciences hosted a number of talks followed by a lively Q&A session. The event was open to students, staff, and anybody in the local community with a desire to learn more about life in the lab and the life-saving research happening right on their doorstep.
PhD researcher, Angharad Wilkie organised the event and said: “A priority for me was to highlight the variety of people and organisations involved in cancer research in the local area.
“The involvement of oncologists from the local hospital meant that the public could see, not only the potential future for cancer treatments through the researcher's talks, but the present treatment options available and the research carried out in the hospital to improve patient wellbeing.
“NWCR established the Cancer Research Centre in Bangor in 2004, and ever since have played a crucial role in supporting the research carried out in this region. In addition, other local charities, such as Tenovus and Cancer Research Wales, also provide important research support to the North Wales area, By having all three of the cancer charities present, the specialisms of each charity were highlighted, and there was a sense of togetherness and community throughout the event - a feeling that everyone was working together towards the common goal of beating cancer.”