Ulster University receives £250K grant for prostate cancer research

There's a £250,000 boost for pioneering prostate cancer research.

Ulster University's been awarded the grant to fund new studies into the most common cancer among men.

This funding, from Prostate Cancer UK, will help them develop a pioneering new method of treating prostate cancer which uses tiny microbubbles to deliver chemotherapy drugs directly to the tumour

This grant has been awarded as part of the charity’s Research Innovation Awards scheme, which this year has awarded £2.8 million to eight exceptional research projects across the UK. Now in its fourth year, the scheme has invested over £11 million so far to fund research with the potential to transform the lives of men with prostate cancer.

The news comes as the latest figures show that a record 12,000 men have died from prostate cancer in a single year in the UK, highlighting the need for new research to help diagnose and treat the disease.

The researchers, led by Professor John Callan, have identified a new combination treatment which could be used to treat prostate cancer that has returned after initial treatment. Normal chemotherapy is not always effective at treating this form of the disease and it also has harmful side effects. The team shall investigate the combination of chemotherapy with a brand-new treatment called sonodynamic therapy. They are developing a way to package up these drugs into microscopic packets called microbubbles, which can deliver the treatment straight to the cancer.

Professor Callan said: “We’re thrilled to have found a brand-new combination treatment that could offer men a new treatment after current techniques have stopped working.

“Unfortunately, one of the drugs has pretty harmful side effects. That’s why we’re testing a new drug delivery system that uses microscopic packages called microbubbles, which only burst when they come into contact with ultrasound waves targeted at the tumour.

“This new technique means a toxic dose of treatment can be delivered just to the cancer, without causing side effects in the rest of the body. We hope to show that this treatment is safe and effective so that we can make a case to test it directly in clinical trials.”

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and the disease kills one man every 45 minutes in the UK. Around 200 men die from prostate cancer every year in Northern Ireland.

Simon Grieveson, Head of Research Funding at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “While prostate cancer can often be effectively treated when caught in its earliest stages, too many men still go on to see their cancer return after initial treatment. Treating this type of recurrent cancer is one of the biggest challenges facing prostate cancer research and we believe that Professor Callan’s project could help revolutionise treatment for these men.

“To help us fund even more vital research, we’re encouraging everyone to sign up to the Belfast March for Men this summer. The march is one of a series of fun family walking events which sees thousands of people across the country come together to help us beat prostate cancer. Now in its second year, the Belfast march alone has raised almost £40,000 for the charity. With your help we can continue to fund research into better tests and better treatment for men with prostate cancer.