Oesophageal Cancer
The Deadly Disease. Oesophageal cancer is the 7th most common cause of cancer death in the UK claiming approximately 20-25 lives per day. 1 in 50 UK males and 1 in 96 UK females will be diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in their lifetime. Early diagnosis results in an 80% chance of survival for at least one year; this drops to a 20% chance if diagnosis is at the latest stage.
Research Project
The oesophagus (gullet) is the muscular tube which forms the part of the gastrointestinal tract through which food passes into the stomach. One common form of oesophageal cancer (adenocarcinoma) is derived from cells that progress from a premalignant disease called Barrett’s syndrome.
It remains unknown how patients diagnosed with Barrett’s progress to cancer, and also why many patients with Barrett’s remain cancer-free. One key area of research at Leeds is in trying to understand the molecular mechanism associated with this progression. Since, both Barrett’s and cancer are linked to cells that experience frequent exposure to stomach acid and bile salts we are developing model tissue systems which can be used in microfluidic devices to allow us to replicate this periodic exposure.
In this way we can more closely mimic physiological conditions to investigate how cells respond to these dramatic changes to environmental conditions and understand which molecules are important in driving a Barrett’s cells into a cancerous state or preventing them from progressing. This understanding will provide us with molecular ‘markers’ to aid diagnosis and therapeutic intervention.
The Dr. Richard Lestner Scholarship
The opportunity for Medical Students to gain first-hand experience in research laboratories which are involved in discovery cancer biology research is extremely important.
The knowledge gained in cellular behaviour and how to perform experiments to tease out molecular mechanisms provides the student a greater understanding of the disease and helps to contextualise therapeutic approaches. This laboratory experience often inspires students to take up research activity as part of their future career path and fosters closer interactions between clinicians and basic scientists.
A summer scholarship provides the ideal opportunity for a medical student to immerse themselves in a research laboratory, to get experience of the challenges of state-of-the-art research techniques as well as learning how to communicate their findings with other researchers. This potentially life-changing opportunity can all be accomplished without interrupting their Medical School studies.
Meet The Professors
Initially trained as a physical / inorganic chemist (University of London and University of Greenwich/Ministry of Defence in the UK), Prof. Ladbury completed post-doctoral research at Yale University, Harvard University Medical School and New York University Medical Center in biophysics and molecular biology. Prof. Ladbury was privileged to obtain a Research Career Development Fellowship from the Wellcome Trust in 1994, which enabled him to return to the UK to start his own laboratory at the University of Oxford.
He joined University College London in 1996 and obtained a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellowship in 1998-2008. In 2003 he became Professor of Molecular Biophysics. In 2008 he moved to Houston, USA to take up the position of Edward Rotan Distinguished Professor of Cancer Research and Director of the Center for Biomolecular Structure and Function at MD Anderson Cancer Center. He returned to the UK in 2014 to become Dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences at the University of Leeds. Since 2019 he has been Director of the Leeds Centre for Disease Models.
His current research involves a multi-technique-based approach to investigating the way in which proteins are able to propagate and maintain signals which underpin cancer development.
Professor Jayne is Bowel Cancer UK & RCS Engl. Professor of Surgery at the University of Leeds. He received his initial medical training at the University of Wales, College of Medicine, Cardiff (1986-89). He initially moved to Leeds in 1990 and following a series of appointments both within the UK and internationally he returned to Leeds in 1998 becoming Professor of Surgery in 2011.
His clinical interests include robotic and minimally invasive surgery for colorectal cancer. His research portfolio focuses on the development and clinical translation of new surgical technologies, for which he was awarded an NIHR Research Professorship in 2012. He is Chief Investigator for several NIHR portfolio clinical trials. He is an NIHR Senior Investigator and serves on several NIHR funding panels.
He is Clinical Director of the Leeds NIHR MIC in Surgical Technologies, a national network of MedTech partners working to develop novel solutions to unmet surgical need. He is Clinical Director for the RCS Eng. Leeds Surgical Trials Centre and Clinical Director for the Leeds NIHR Global Health Research Group, which affords the opportunity to apply his expertise in the clinical translation of surgical technologies to low resource countries.
The Zone's Youth Support Service
Our mission is simple:
To support children and youth by helping them get through a tough time, build their self-esteem, their confidence and sustain positive mental health.
The lack of mental health care for young people in the UK leaves some in crisis.
Young people may need help with; Grief, an acrimonious divorce, domestic violence or abuse, grooming, bullying, an eating disorder, school issues or a parent with an addiction.
They may be a carer or a sibling of a child with additional needs, they could be struggling with their sexual or gender identity, have a physical disability, in poor mental health, be suffering with heightened anxiety, have irrational fears or experiencing panic attacks.
They may be at risk of being sexually exploited, falling into a life of crime, they may be a self harmer or have suicidal thoughts, they may be desperately struggling with strict religious boundaries, family or community expectations, they may be homeless or isolated.
They may just need an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on, they may need a buddy to laugh with or just need some time out for a chance to take a breath.
Our youth and support workers are trained to spot early warning signs in order to intervene and to prevent a crisis. The Zone is able respond speedily and when needed the safeguarding lead will create a bespoke package of care for each young person. This includes working with a network of Professionals.
These professionals are a combination of Therapists, Counsellors, Teachers, Doctors, Other Medical Practitioners, Parent Coaches, Educationalists, Psychologists, Youth Workers, Youth & Community Specialists, Support Workers and others.
If you are, or you know of a young person who needs some TLC, practical support or immediate intervention for whatever reason please get in touch. We network with experts and organisations and signpost for the best possible support available.
For more information about Zone Services please visit www.thezoneleeds.org
