Gordon Macdonald MSP dons lab coat to learn how research can beat cancer

Gordon Macdonald MSP recently met Cancer Research UK scientists in Edinburgh to learn about the charity’s world class research in Scotland.

The MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands visited the Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre where he witnessed first-hand the ground-breaking research being carried out by scientists and doctors, and heard how research such as this will help to save lives.

Thanks to the generosity of its supporters, the charity was able to spend more than £5 million in Edinburgh last year on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research.

Gordon Macdonald MSP said, “Like everywhere in Scotland, cancer has a huge effect on families in Edinburgh Pentlands, so it has been fantastic to visit the Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre and hear more about how it is offering new hope to families in the capital and across Scotland.”

Researchers in Edinburgh are focusing particularly on bowel, brain and women’s cancers - including breast, endometrial and ovarian cancer - turning new discoveries into better treatments for patients.

And it’s just been announced that young Edinburgh scientist Dr Noor Gammoh is set to receive £1.64 million from Cancer Research UK to support her research into a common type of brain tumour.

Dr Noor Gammoh, Cancer Research UK career development fellow, said, “It was a pleasure to be able to welcome Gordon, to show him some of the valuable work the team here is undertaking.

“I’m so pleased to have recently been awarded a fellowship that will potentially help find new ways to help more people beat cancer sooner.”

At his visit to the Centre, Gordon also heard about Cancer Research UK’s latest campaign Scale Down Cancer which is calling for more to be done to tackle obesity in Scotland.

The charity is urging the Scottish Government to introduce measures that will give children the best start in life such as restricting the advertising of unhealthy food to children and curbing multi-buy discounts.

Gregor McNie, senior public affairs manager at Cancer Research UK, said, “Research is at the heart of curing cancer, yet we must not forget that four in ten cancers are preventable in the first place. Not enough of us know that obesity is the single biggest preventable cause of cancer after smoking. Given the devastating impact that cancer has on families across Scotland, it’s vital we see political action on obesity.”

Join the conversation on twitter via @CRUKScotland and #ScaleDownCancer