Swansea University early-career researcher Dr James Cronin has been given the opportunity to investigate whether targeting therapy-resistant ovarian cancer cells with nanoparticles induces cancer cell death.
Dr Cronin said: “Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality rate of all female reproductive system cancers worldwide. Even after successful treatment, there is a high chance the cancer will come back within the next few years. If it does come back, it can't usually be cured.”
Dr Cronin’s research will target therapy-resistant ovarian cancer with a process called iron nanoparticle-induced ferroptosis which implicates the crucial role of cellular iron in cancer cell death.
Dr Cronin’s research has been made possible by the University’s policy of sourcing and awarding seed corn funding to help talented early career researchers who aim to undertake extraordinary and ground-breaking research, and whose research might not otherwise be possible. This particular funding has come courtesy of Swansea University alumni. Dr Cronin said: “I feel very grateful that former students of the University have seen the potential of this research and have been generous enough to fund it.”
This study will generate preliminary data that will contribute to the submission of a larger study grant with the ultimate aim of producing novel therapeutics to target chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer.
If you are an alumni of the University and are interested in supporting our pioneering medical researchers, please visit this page.
