Prestigious prize for study into liver cancer diagnosis and treatment

Two leading academics at Newcastle University have won a prestigious 2020 Newton Prize for their international study into liver cancer.

Image: (L-R) Professors Fiona Oakley and Helen Reeves. Courtesy of Newcastle University Press Office

Professors Helen Reeves and Fiona Oakley’s research aims to better understand liver cancer by identifying new diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in the blood that halt the progression of the disease. Read the full story here

Liver research at the Newcastle BRC

Liver research is a key strength in Newcastle, with a recent global review ranking the subject 30th in the world for research content. As a core theme for the NIHR Newcastle BRC, liver disease research is a focus, particularly in terms of understanding long-term conditions associated with the liver, and looking into therapeutic options for improving the quality of life for people living with diseases such as Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)  and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD).  One of the recipients of this prestigious prize, Professor Fiona Oakley, is a supervisor for Newcastle BRC trainee, Lucy Gee, whose project focusses on the mechanisms underpinning the memory deficits found in PBC patients – an area which is largely unstudied.