Guernsey’s Oddfellows lodge has received a heap of praise, for the support members have shown a PhD student from the University of Southampton.
Nur Zainal has been investigating a specific gene which could be harnessed to target cancer cells in a new vaccine.
She’s also working on a “novel preclinical model” that allows scientists to study human lung cancer in a more realistic setting.
Working with scientists at the Centre for Cancer Immunology, Ms Zainal has developed a new mouse model of lung cancer that incorporates human genes linked to tumour progression.
This aims to provide a crucial step forward in understanding how cancers develop and respond to treatment, with a potential to speed up the development of more effective cancer therapies and vaccines.
The work has been so successful that Ms Zainal and her team received further funding to continue the work and explore its relevance across different cancers.
She says the funding from the Oddfellows has not only been positive for her professionally, but also personally.
“This support has impacted my personal growth as a scientist and has significantly advanced our research into developing a better model for studying lung cancer,” she says.
Ms Zainal continued: “Our findings demonstrate our model holds significant promise in transforming preclinical cancer research. Preclinical, basic science is where everything begins, and we need to get it right so that clinical trials and new treatments have the best chance of success.
“I am incredibly grateful to the Oddfellows for its generous donation and the faith the Society has shown in my work. It’s played a pivotal role in enabling me to pursue my PhD and carry out research that I am genuinely passionate about.”
Representatives from the Oddfellows recently visited the University of Southampton’s Centre for Cancer Immunology to mark the final payment of funding courtesy of the Society’s HA Andrews Memorial Fund.
The Centre was chosen to receive £100,000 in 2022, which was split over a three-year period.
Eric Ferbrache, Trustee at Guernsey Oddfellows, nominated the project to be backed by the memorial fund.
“I was so happy that the project was chosen to receive funding, and the success that Nur’s research has achieved over the last three years has been pleasing to see.
“The fact that she is now able to continue her research through additional funding, directly by the University, is a huge source of pride for me personally, Guernsey Oddfellows and the Society as a whole.”
Mr Ferbrache added: “Giving back and helping to improve people’s lives is what the Oddfellows is all about, and the work being carried out by Nur and everyone else at the Centre for Cancer Immunology has the potential to improve a great many lives.”
Guernsey organisations and residents have played an important role in Southampton research over the years. Many have taken part in trials and research studies run by the University’s scientists.
Earlier this year, it was announced that blood samples from Guernsey patients with some forms of lymphoma and leukaemia are now to be flown to Southampton to be part of the Mature Lymphoid Malignancies observation study, and over half of the £27 million raised to build the Centre of Cancer Immunology came from generous supporters in the Channel Islands.
