Researchers have been awarded a prize named in memory of a pop star’s mother for their battle against lung cancer.
Academics at the University of Manchester were honoured with the inaugural Rita Frost Award for their research into Britain’s biggest cancer killer.
The award was presented by the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation in memory of the mother of former Atomic Kitten singer Jenny Frost, who is from Prestwich.
Rita died in 2010 aged 60 after a battle with lung cancer . Since her death, Jenny has raised more than £30,000 for the charity.
The university team, led by Dr Phil Crosbie, was one of nine projects across Britain to receive a share of £1 million funding.
Staff in Manchester will use the cash to search for markers in blood, which may be able to detect early stage lung cancer. If successful, this could potentially lead to a simple blood test to detect lung cancer early, when survival rates are much higher.
Dr Crosbie said: “Our study aims to identify proteins in blood that may be a signal for early lung cancer.
“Diagnosing lung cancer at an early stage is essential to improve outcomes for patients. Support from the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation has been pivotal in getting the study started.”
Jenny, who is now a TV presenter, said: “My mum died in 2010 from lung cancer. She was only 60 and had never smoked in her life. We are supporting this research because we don’t want other families to have to go through what we’ve been through.
“The Rita Frost Award is looking into how lung cancer can be detected at an earlier stage when people can be treated and cured. It was too late for my mum but it doesn’t have to be for other families.”
Consultant oncologist David Gilligan, who is head of the charity’s grants committee, said: “Considering the fact it kills more people than any other cancer, lung cancer research is shockingly underfunded.
“We are delighted to be able to announce these new projects, which we hope will eventually make a real difference to how lung cancer is diagnosed and how patients are treated.
“None of this would be possible without the generous donations from the public and, in particular, the legacies we have received which fund one in three of all our research projects.”
SOURCE: HERE
