Speakers will predict the future of where the field of cancer diagnosis and treatment is going in the next ten years

Nexxus, the West of Scotland Bioscience Network will hold the second event of the Horizons in Biomedicine Series today at 6.30pm at the Glasgow Science Centre.

'The Nexxt Big Thing in Cancer' will be chaired by Professor John Coggins, Dean of the Faculty of Biomedical and Life Sciences at the University of Glasgow, and will include short presentations from four experts in cancer research. Each speaker will predict the future of where the field of cancer diagnosis and treatment is going in the next ten years.

Professor Margaret Frame, Depute Director of the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, and Honorary Professor at the Faculty of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow will give a talk into a key protein molecule called Src. The drug helps loosen the structure of tissues surrounding a tumour, opening a way for cells to spread around the body. Research at Glasgow's Beatson Institute could lead to new drugs that block this action and prevent cancer spreading.

Professor Jim Cassidy, Professor of Oncology and Head of the Cancer Research UK Department of Medical Oncology at the University of Glasgow, will follow, exploring new drug development, colorectal cancer, molecular aspects of cytotoxic action, and drug delivery systems in cancer.

Dr Tessa Hollyoake, Senior Lecturer in Academic Transfusion Medicine and Honorary Consultant in Haematology Academic Transfusion Medicine Unit, has been working in the haematology field since 1992 and will explore the future of leukemia.

The final speaker, Dr George Blackledge, President of Clinical Oncology, AstraZeneca will explore the cancer pipeline in the pharmaceutical industry and future therapeutics..

Gillian Cay, Manager of Nexxus said: "This event comes at an exciting time for cancer research in the West of Scotland with recent announcements about the new state-of-the-art research facilities for the Beatson Institute due to open in 2006 and the new Beatson Oncology Centre due to open in 2007."

Mike Findlay ([email protected])