My Breakthrough
New Dr Avons announced
continues to make a tremendous contribution to the Centre, including their funding of the 'Dr Avon' programme.
Dr Hartmut Kristeleit
Dr Kristeleit has treated patients in a number of London hospitals, and has
spent the past three years as a scientist at the Breakthrough Research Centre. Dr Kristeleit says: “Thanks to Avon, I've been supported by some of the world's best breast cancer researchers for the last three years. I know that the work I've done will have lasting consequences, helping in our search to develop new, targeted treatments for women with breast cancer.”
The science: Dr Kristeleit has been investigating the function of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which are linked to hereditary breast cancer. Faults in these genes are associated with around 5% of all breast cancers. Excitingly, he has found several chemicals that appear to selectively kill cells containing faults in BRCA genes, and hopes this will lead to the development of new, targeted treatments.
Dr Kai-Keen Shiu
Dr Shiu is a highly trained oncology doctor, with an interest in molecular oncology and pathology – the study of molecules such as DNA and proteins in disease. Dr Shiu says: "What I admire about Avon is that they are a company with a large base of staff, representatives and customers who are very interested in improving breast cancer care from every aspect, and I'm all for that."
The science: Dr Shiu is studying medullary breast cancer, which usually occurs in younger women and is difficult to treat. Dr Shiu plans to study a large number of samples from medullary breast cancer tumours, and identify the faulty genes that cause these cancers to develop.
Dr Susana Banerjee
Dr Banerjee is working towards her PhD at the research centre. She
previously treated cancer patients at The Royal Marsden Hospital. Dr Banerjee says: “It’s fantastic that by buying Avon products people are helping to fund such important work. I’m incredibly grateful to Avon, the Avon Representatives themselves and their customers for giving me this opportunity.”
The science: Dr Banerjee is particularly interested in hormone-sensitive breast cancers, which rely on the presence of the female hormone oestrogen for their growth and survival. She is investigating whether targeting blood vessels that supply oestrogen-driven breast cancer could be a new treatment strategy in the future.
Dr Juanita Lopez
Dr Lopez is an oncology doctor who has chosen to combine her medical duties with laboratory research. Dr Lopez says: "I am very excited by this
opportunity to follow my passion. This will allow me to explore questions
around the nature of breast cancer, and why it is sometimes resistant to chemotherapy treatment, which will help me as an oncology doctor."
The science: Dr Lopez will be investigating Ixabepilone, which is part of a new family of chemotherapy treatments. This work will help doctors to test a patient’s cells to predict which chemotherapy is most likely to work. This will help them choose the best treatment for each patient, and avoid prescribing unnecessary chemotherapy.
