Research committed to moving away from toxic chemotherapy

As Leicester prepares to host its event on Thursday 24 September as part of cancer survivor Rik Basra’s ‘Pass It On’ campaign, academics will showcase their research and explain what they are doing to pave the way for new leukaemia treatments in the future.

Blood cancers affect 38,000 people every year in the UK, from children to the elderly, and common treatments are chemotherapy, radiotherapy and, in some cases, a stem cell or bone marrow transplant.

The month-long drive across the county, spearheaded by former Leicestershire Police officer Rik and his wife Kas, hopes to recruit people to boost the national database of stem cell donors, run by the charity Anthony Nolan.

The event at the newly refurbished Students’ Union will feature live music and comedy performances as well as a talk by researchers from the University’s Ernest and Helen Scott Haematological Research Institute which is funded by the Waudby-Scott Trust.

The Institute, led by Professor Martin Dyer and Professor Simon Wagner, brings together clinicians from the Leicester Royal Infirmary and University researchers to understand how blood cancers in adults develop and most importantly to develop and assess novel therapeutics with less toxicity.

The University’s student society, Leicester Marrow, will be on hand to provide information and sign people up to the Anthony Nolan donor register on the day. Anyone aged 16-30 who is in good health can join the UK register.

The event, which runs from 11.00am to 4.00pm, on Thursday 24 September will be held in the Students’ Union and will feature a whole host of live music, comedians and art.