Bill Grant MP and Miles Briggs MSP joined us on a research tour of the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research in Glasgow.
We’re always delighted when politicians want to learn more about the cutting-edge research that we fund and the difference it can make for people affected by breast cancer.
When Bill Grant MP and Miles Briggs MSP agreed to join us on a research tour showcasing Breast Cancer Now-funded research at the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research in Glasgow, we were over the moon.
We were also joined on the day by one of our campaigners, Alison Tait, so that she could learn more about our research. She spoke to the politicians about her experience and the issues that matter most to people affected by breast cancer. Here's what she thought of the meeting.
I had high expectations... I was not disappointed!
Not one to turn down an invite to anything, I was really excited when Ashleigh Simpson from Breast Cancer Now invited me to join her, Bill Grant MP and Miles Briggs MSP for a tour around the laboratories at the Beatson Institute in Glasgow.
I'd always felt cheated by the science lab at school where the most exciting it got was a Bunsen burner and a Van de Graaff generator, so I had high expectations of lots of bubbling, steaming and shoogling [shaking] test tubes. I was not disappointed!
The tour involved a presentation from Dr Karen Blyth about the breast cancer research being carried out in Glasgow. We then visited each lab where Breast Cancer Now-funded research is happening, that could help develop treatments to protect against breast cancer, and treatments that could prevent breast cancer spreading. I have secondary breast cancer myself, so it was really exciting to hear that research is underway to give more people hope that their cancer won’t return and spread.
Hope and excitement
We also heard about Professor Stephen Tait’s research. He has recently defined a new potential way to kill breast cancer cells. All these findings are in early development, but his results will help further research to develop new treatments.
Lab technicians showed us how they prepared samples for testing in special contamination free booths, and we did a lot of peering down microscopes to look at cancer cells and how they change after treatment.
One monstrous microscope can zoom in so close to cells, it’s like the reverse of trying to imagine how big the universe is – fascinating!
I was filled with hope and excitement at the extent of the research that is being funded by Breast Cancer Now. Research is key in saving more lives from breast cancer but more research is needed. Please donate and you could help make life-saving research and life-changing support happen.
We always appreciate politicians wanting to know more about the life-saving work we do. To find out more about the research for yourself, take a look at our recent round-up.