New £4M Cancer Unit Supermodel Naomi Campbell Opens a New £4 Million Breast Cancer Research Unit
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| 3 King’s Health Partners | 4 Opera premiere | 8 Profile: Chris Mottershead | 19 Art at King’s CommentThe College newsletter Issue no 187 | March 2009 New £4m cancer unit Supermodel Naomi Campbell opens a new £4 million breast cancer research unit. A NEW BREAST caNCER RESEARCH unit, funded by Breakthrough New flags flying from King’s rooftops Breast Cancer (BBC), was gREg funnELL launched last month. It will be dedicated to finding treatments for, and ways of preventing, a particularly aggressive type of breast cancer. The first unit of its kind in the UK The research unit will investigate triple negative breast cancer, which is more common among younger women and those of African origin. Despite there being up to 6,000 new cases in the UK each year, very little is known about triple negative breast cancer. The continued on page 2 StOP PRESS King’s Health Partners accredited As Comment went to press King’s Health Partners was formally accredited as one of the UK’s first Academic Health Sciences Centres (AHSCs). Five AHSCs have been approved by the international expert panel appointed by the Department Eagle-eyed readers may have spotted that three new red flags flying the King’s logo have recently appeared on top of the of Health. See page 3 for more Maughan Library & Information Services Centre and the James Clerk Maxwell and Waterloo Bridge Wing buildings. Red was on this major achievement. chosen for two reasons: firstly it is commonly perceived as the King’s corporate colour and secondly, it is more eyecatching from a distance than the previously used blue. News New £4 million cancer unit continued from page 1 She added: ‘Having a mother The research team will use Cancer, said: ‘Breast cancer is research unit, the first of its kind who is a breast cancer survivor cutting-edge technology. The the most common cancer in the in the UK, has been set up by means I know how important it unit is equipped with an £80,000 UK – nearly 46,000 women are King’s and Breakthrough Breast is to find new treatments for this Hamamatsu Nanozoomer, the diagnosed with the disease each Cancer and is based at Guy’s disease. I am thrilled that BBC latest digital microscope, which year. Only through research can Hospital. is opening a new research unit to shows images of the body’s tissue we improve our understanding of Dr Andrew Tutt, Director of investigate a type of cancer that at an unprecedented level of breast cancer and devise ways to the research unit, said: ‘There are is more common among black detail. It also enables scientists better treat, diagnose and prevent several different types of breast women.’ from around the world to digitally the disease. This Breakthrough cancer and triple negative breast share and analyse microscopic Breast Cancer Research Unit, cancer is more difficult to treat images at the same time. will play a vital role in developing than other forms of the disease. scientists and clinicians The unit is based at Guy’s our knowledge of triple negative This is because tumours do not can work closely in Hospital, part of the Guy’s and St breast cancer.’ respond to targeted treatments Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. The work of the unit like tamoxifen or Herceptin and collaboration It is adjacent to King’s Academic complements the vision of the are more likely to return after Breast Unit. Its location allows Integrated Cancer Centre (ICC), treatment.’ Scientists will be trying to find scientists and clinicians to work a collaboration between King’s; Naomi Campbell’s mother, out more about triple negative closely in collaboration. Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Valerie Campbell, is in remission breast cancer, in particular which This is one of three research Foundation Trust; King’s College from this type of breast cancer. genetic changes in the tumour units being opened in the UK by Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Her daughter said: ‘It’s something cause or drive its growth. They the charity. They each focus on and the South East London that’s never really happened in want to learn more about the a specific area of breast cancer Cancer Network. my family. It just made me more biology of the disease, including research and all have strong links The ICC has a vision to aware.’ if there is a ‘cancer stem cell’ that with a major cancer hospital or develop world-class cancer She told staff and supporters of causes it. With this knowledge, breast unit and research institute services to serve people across the charity at the launch of the unit they will try to find new ways to or university. south east London and, for that her mother would have to wait diagnose, treat, and ultimately Jeremy Hughes, Chief more specialist services, patients another 18 months for the all-clear. prevent this form of breast cancer. Executive of Breakthrough Breast from further afield. Principal’s column Creative King’s CReaTive King’s, a College-wide initiative exploring the notion g RE g funn of creativity and its place in ELL academic life, launched this term. Ten weekly discussions took Dear colleagues Services for Students, will be months the College will be place at the Strand Campus, The austere financial climate, holding roadshows to highlight submitting a self-evaluation and including a talk about the which threatens significant changes and emphasise the we must ensure that everything challenges in supporting creative public expenditure cuts from importance of processing is in order for the main audit visit thinking in science departments 2010 and has brought immediate overseas applications quickly which is planned for the end of by Dr Mark Miodownik, cuts in investment income, was and efficiently. November. More information Head of the Materials Research the backdrop to the topics I have The way forward won’t be about this will follow in Comment. Group, School of Physical been discussing at the recent fora easy because of the UK and In February I visited our Sciences & Engineering. The around College campuses. world economic situation but numerous alumni in Hong Kong. events were open to all staff One of the most pressing we have some very good RAE Closer ties to alumni, including and students. issues, and a challenge faced results – 60 per cent of our fundraising, are even more Dr Jan Palmowski, Head of the by all universities, is the need research activity is world-leading important in the context of the School of Arts & Humanities, not only to cut costs but also or internationally excellent economic downturn. explains: ‘King’s has developed to increase revenues. This (4* & 3*) – which provide us Finally, in my capacity as thriving links with the cultural places particular importance with an excellent platform to President of UUK I have been and creative sector, business, the on the further increases in the build on. Vice-Principal, Chris lobbying the Government to health services, and finance. With recruitment of overseas students. Mottershead (Research & try and minimise the damage experts on creativity ranging from With this in mind staff should Innovation), is co-ordinating the to higher education that public the arts to the sciences and the be aware of new complex visa follow-up to the RAE. spending cuts would bring. health schools, the College is in regulations which threaten to Success in the forthcoming The months ahead may be an ideal position to engage in make this essential activity more Quality Assurance Agency difficult, but I have no doubt that a wider debate about the challenging with immediate institutional audit is also essential King’s will continue to flourish. meaning of creativity, and how effect. Jenny Briggs, Director of to our future. In the next few Rick Trainor universities can contribute to a more creative society.’ 2 | Comment | March 2009 | www.kcl.ac.uk News StOP PRESS King’s Health Partners accredited AS COMMENT wenT To pRess King’s ‘This achievement is testament populations we serve and related academic activities. Health Partners was formally to the comprehensive range of beyond,’ said the Principal, We look forward to continuing accredited as one of the UK’s world-class expertise that exists Professor Rick Trainor. this exciting work so that we first Academic Health Sciences across King’s Health Partners. ‘We have made significant can develop an outstanding Centres (AHSCs). Five AHSCs The challenge ahead is to progress in recent months AHSC.’ have been approved by the make full use of our potential with our plans to align clinical For information see international expert panel to revolutionise the way that services, research and teaching www.kingshealthpartners.org/staff appointed by the Department healthcare is designed and much more closely for the More information will follow in of Health. delivered, both for the local benefit of patient care and future issues of Comment. An important milestone for King’s Health Partners PIERS ALLARDyCE King’s Health Partners hosted a Durham, North Carolina; major international conference Dr Michael Klag, Dean, Johns Academic Health Science Centres: Hopkins Bloomberg School a revolution in healthcare? on 6 of Public Health, Baltimore; March at New Hunt’s House, and Sir Alan Langlands FRSE, Guy’s Campus. Principal and Vice Chancellor, This one-day event provided University of Dundee. the opportunity for Academic Professor Robert Lechler, Health Sciences Centres Interim Director of King’s (AHSCs) from across the globe Health Partners and Vice- to collaborate and share ideas Principal (Health), gave the and their understanding of the welcome address. added value they bring to the King’s is part of King’s Health patient.