Dr Mairead McNamara
Research Institution: University of Manchester/The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
Award: £84,500 Duration: 2 years
Project Title: A study to assess the feasibility of evaluating BRCAness in plasma and tumour samples from patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Project Aims: Some pancreatic tumours removed from patients during surgery show changes in their cells that resemble genetic mutations seen in breast and ovarian cancers. These mutations are potentially treatable with drugs. Dr. McNamara will examine blood and tissue samples donated by patients with later stage disease to see if this similarity is present more widely. This could inform which patients might benefit from trials of new drugs to target these mutations.