Advancing Neuroendocrine Cancer Research
NCUK’s new campaign, Advancing Neuroendocrine Cancer Research, aims to raise more funds for Neuroendocrine Cancer research to support those with the condition both today and in the future.
NCUK & UKINETS are now able to offer three strands of research funding and opportunity.
NCUK & UKINETS Pump-priming grant
As part of the ‘Advancing Neuroendocrine Cancer Research’ campaign, and in collaboration with UKINETS, NCUK are funding one pump-priming grant in 2024. This grant aims to provide pump-priming funds to support research projects designed to improve outcomes for patients with neuroendocrine cancer. This grant is for £30,000.
The 2024 pump-priming grant is in memory of Azmat Amin and we are so grateful to her family & friends for all their hard work in raising these funds to enable this grant. Azmat tragically died from neuroendocrine cancer at the age of 39 in 2023, leaving a legacy highlighting the importance of research to increase understanding and treatment of the disease.
We are delighted to announce the winner of this year’s pump-priming grant is Professor Rohini Sharma, a consultant in Medical Oncology & Clinical Pharmacology at Imperial College, London.
Professor Sharma’s grant project is titled ‘Mathematical descriptors of clinical outcome to PRRT from routine imaging in patients with neuroendocrine tumours.’
Professor Sharma explains what she will be investigating: “Despite the promise of peptide receptor radiotherapy (PRRT), not all patients’ cancers shrink and many do not benefit. It is challenging to predict who will respond to treatment or not. Using artificial intelligence to analyse routine scans before PRRT, we can predict who would benefit from PRRT and who would not, avoiding potentially 8 months of futile treatment. This will move us one step closer to building personalised treatment strategies for each patient.”
NCUK & UKINETS Surgical Speciality Lead
As part of our ‘Advancing Neuroendocrine Cancer Research’ campaign, we are delighted to announce the appointment of a neuroendocrine cancer Surgical Specialty Lead (SSL). This is the first time such a role has been established specifically for neuroendocrine cancer, in partnership with the Royal College of Surgeons. There are currently only 22 SSLs in the UK so this appointment represents an opportunity to advance both research and awareness within the wider surgical community.
We are thrilled to introduce Mr. Samuel Ford, a consultant Upper GI and sarcoma surgeon specialising in neuroendocrine tumour (NET) surgery, as the neuroendocrine cancer SSL. Mr. Ford also serves as the research committee chair of the UK & Ireland Neuroendocrine Tumour Society.
The primary objectives of the SSL role, spanning a 3-year term, include establishing two new trials, training approximately 30 new investigators, and developing clinical networks.
The primary goals of Mr Ford’s research will focus on understanding the value of surgery in advanced neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) which is unknown. NETs are typically slow growing and when advanced, people can live a relatively long time. Surgery might prolong survival and improve quality of life; however, it comes with the risks of undergoing a major operation and could expose patients to harm with little benefit. Patient groups and NET specialists are united in the value of answering this question although it is uncertain if patients would be willing to be randomised (allocated by chance) to surgery or not. This trial is to assess feasibility of recruitment and true acceptability to patients.
In his own words, Mr. Ford stated,
“I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed as the Surgical Speciality Lead for Neuroendocrine Cancers. I recognise that this is considerable investment for Neuroendocrine Cancer UK and I am very grateful for the tireless fund raising and support that has come from our patients, their families and benefactors, without which this role would not have been possible. I will use my time in post to consolidatethe UK research network for NETs and to target larger funding streams to help improve the quality and length of life for people living with NETs”.
We look forward to hearing about all the progress Mr. Ford will make in this role and will keep our community updated.
Practice-changing grants, a collaboration between NCUK & UKINETS
To help patients today, NCUK are launching these practice-changing grants in collaboration with UKINETS to help people with neuroendocrine cancer.
The aim is to support healthcare professionals to find new and practical ways to help improve the lives of people with neuroendocrine cancer with rapid implementation (within 12 months).
These grants are open to any healthcare professional. NCUK will fund a maximum of 3 grants of up to £10,000 each per year.
Please email Lisa at [email protected] if you have any questions about the grants.
For more information on the grants awarded in 2023, please visit this page…
