|  |  |  | | | | Canterbury researchers accept generous donation from Freemasons | | | | |
| |  Canterbury researchers accept the generous donation
Release Date: 10 July 2008
Dr Peter Nicholls and his team at the University of Kent welcomed local supporters of Leukaemia Research to their laboratories in Canterbury at an event on 2 July, which was organised to coincide with a generous donation from the Freemasons’ Grand Charity of the East Kent Province, who make significant contributions to medical research charities every year.
Dr Peter Nicholls and his team at the University of Kent welcomed local supporters of Leukaemia Research to their laboratories in Canterbury at an event on 2 July, which was organised to coincide with a generous donation from the Freemasons’ Grand Charity of the East Kent Province, who make significant contributions to medical research charities every year.
Grand Charity president Grahame Elliott and Provincial Grand Master Michael Bailey handed over a cheque for £56,500 to the Leukaemia Research scientists to support their £200,000 research into acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).
Dr Peter Nicholls and Dr Daniel Lloyd presented their latest research to an audience of over 60 people and explained how they are developing an exciting new therapy using radioactive isotopes to treat patients with AML.
The team have identified a protein, CD33, found on the surface of some AML cells and have developed an antibody to specifically target this protein. By attaching a radioactive isotope to the antibody they have developed a treatment that will specifically target and destroy AML cells. They have a large-scale production process designed to make this antibody in their laboratory and are now testing strategies to turn this research into a safe and effective treatment for patients with AML.
Dr Nicholls and Dr Lloyd showed guests around the laboratories and, with the help of their enthusiastic research team, staged a number of live demonstrations to show the sophisticated techniques used to produce large quantities of the antibody. Then, using models, they were able to show the audience how the radioactive antibody is able to discriminate between healthy and malignant cells, safely destroying the harmful AML cells.
Leukaemia Research funded scientist Dr Peter Nicholls, who is dedicated to research into AML, says: “It was a brilliant evening, we’re really grateful for the Freemasons’ generous support and it was great to be able to meet Leukaemia Research supporters and explain to them in detail the research that we’re doing here.”
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