Elizabeth Friel
Elizabeth's page
Fundraising for Brain Tumour Research
Story
In August 2013, Dad was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma multiforme - a brain tumour. He fought hard, and for just over a year, he was winning. In May 2015 he received devastating news that the tumour had not only grown, but there were three more. The stakes had been raised, but dad, my Hero, was determined to carry on fighting. He would never give up.
With all the fight and will in the world, dad could not win this battle and on 8 January 2016 he passed away.
We have therefore decided to set up this page in order to raise £1000 for a specific research project on the blood-brain barrier.
The blood-brain barrier is a powerful protector for the brain, guarding this most vital and complex of organs against toxins travelling in the blood. Many treatments for cancer in the body, such as chemotherapy and cancer-targeting drugs, are delivered through the bloodstream and the blood-brain barrier prevents these from crossing into the brain, making it more difficult to combat brain tumours.
Research into the blood-brain barrier is being led by Professor Geoff Pilkington lead scientist at the Brain Tumour Research Centre.
Professor Pilkington set out to create a unique all-human version that could be used by researchers in the lab. His model uses only human brain cells, human brain glioma (tumour) cells and human serum.
This blood-brain barrier model is being used by Professor Pilkington’s group and other researchers for live cell imaging and to provide a basis for the investigation of the cellular and molecular features of invading tumour cells. Revealing the precise mechanisms of tumour cells’ invasive behaviour is essential to the development of successful new therapies for this most devastating of diseases.
This blood-brain barrier model is being used by Professor Pilkington’s group and other researchers for live cell imaging and to provide a basis for the investigation of the cellular and molecular features of invading tumour cells. Revealing the precise mechanisms of tumour cells’ invasive behaviour is essential to the development of successful new therapies for this most devastating of diseases.
Thank you for visiting this page.
An even bigger thank you for those of you that help us reach the £1k mark. We want to do dad proud. We want to help fund this very worthy project. We want to try and prevent other loved ones facing the devastation it has brought us.
Thank you
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