On 15th September 2023, I met with Becky Trout, Fundraising Manager, and Dr Juri Na, Research Fellow, to present a grant towards a new Gbox mini9 scanner for visualising protein levels in cell and tissue samples.
The Derriford Research Facility at the University of Plymouth is a state-of-the-art research centre that focuses on medical research. The facility was completed a few years ago, and I had the chance to visit it when it was still under construction. The University invested £17 million in the facility, which provides a research-intensive environment for studying cancer, infection, immunity, and inflammation, as well as neurological conditions such as brain tumours, dementia, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, antibiotic resistance, oral cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Ebola, and bovine tuberculosis. The Hospital Saturday Fund has also provided a grant for research into Huntington’s disease and the Antibiotics Accelerator at the University.
During my visit, Becky Trout, Fundraising Manager, and Dr. Juri Na, Research Fellow, gave me a tour of the laboratory. I presented a cheque for £5,000 to support the purchase of a new Gbox mini9 scanner that can visualise protein levels in cell and tissue samples. Dr. Na explained that the scanner will be used for research into cancerous brain tumours, as well as neurological diseases such as dementia, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease. She also explained how the scanner works, identifying the proteins generated by cancer cells and the antibodies produced by the body to combat them. The scanner detects the fluorescence of these proteins and antibodies, with stronger fluorescence indicating the presence of more cells. The scanner is an essential piece of equipment for the Medical Research Department and will be put to good use.
At the Hospital Saturday Fund, we are committed to advancing cutting-edge research and supporting initiatives that have the potential to revolutionise healthcare. We look forward to the positive impact that this grant will have on the University of Plymouth’s research endeavours.
Paul Jackson
Group Chief Executive
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