Wednesday 1 March 2017: Kevin Harper: Cancer Research UK
Around 9.000 people are diagnosed with cancer in Northern Ireland every year. Although survival rates are improving the disease still claims the lives of around 4,100 people annually. Cancer Research UK works closely with Queens’s University in Belfast, the N I Health Trusts and Pharmaceutical Companies. The charity has a focus group in Omagh and also a second hand shop and contributes significantly to cancer research in Northern Ireland. 81% of income is spent on research and 19% on administration. Kevin discussed current areas of research by using plastic eggs to demonstrate DNA building blocks, two types of drinks to demonstrate unreliable perceptions and paper strips to identify “super tasters”. This novel approach served to hold the attention of his audience. He also talked about a promising new approach to diagnosis called Stampede based on work on hormones. He was thanked for his extremely interesting talk by member Alastair Orr.