Cancer  Research at Liverpool University

In order to make informed decisions on university choices and which career paths to follow, a select group of Mosslands’ 6th formers visited the North West Cancer Research Centre – University of Liverpool  (formerly The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Centre).

During a tour of the research labs they were introduced to the concept of DNA damage and how it is hoped that the body’s own repair mechanism can be harnessed to combat cancer. Did you know that each human body cell is composed from over 20,000 proteins and that every day around 10,000 harmless instances of DNA damage occurs in each cell, but that excessive DNA damage might be a cause of cancer?   The Mosslands’ students were shown how individual proteins are isolated and then made to glow in the dark so that they can later be analysed to see if their absence or abundance affects cancer cell growth. They were also shown how “pure” lines of cancer cells are cultured in order to give  consistent  testing  parameters for  the 4 research  groups that perform world-class scientific research into head and neck cancer, pancreatic and lung cancer.  Locally we can be proud of the fantastic work that the Wallasey branch of North West Cancer Research does in its massive fund raising activities. Thanks go to them for allowing Mosslands’ students to experience the life changing work of the North West Cancer Research Centre and to meet the people who work there.