Two bioscientists from Glasgow Caledonian University’s School of Health and Life Sciences (SHLS) have won £200,000 funding in the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) Springboard Awards.
Cancer researcher Dr Timothy Humpton has received £100,000 over two years to investigate the protective function of tumour suppressor gene p53 in advanced liver disease associated with metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome is caused by obesity, insulin resistance, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol. Those with type 2 diabetes are more at risk of going on to develop non-alcoholic steatohepatitis liver disease that can lead to liver cancer.
Dr Humpton said: “I was delighted to receive the prestigious AMS funding which will allow me to further investigate the protective functions of the tumour suppressor gene p53 in advanced liver disease associated with metabolic syndrome.
“The gene has long been established as an important defender against the development of cancer. Based on preliminary findings, I have found that p53 may play a similar role in protecting the liver from liver disease in the context of metabolic syndrome.
“Looking at changes in p53 activity can reveal important stages in cancer development. I believe that increasing our understanding of what the gene is doing to protect the liver may provide the opportunity to develop new treatment options for an otherwise intractable condition.”
Clinical Microbiologist Dr Ryan Kean was also awarded £100,000 over two years to explore drug repurposing to combat chronic vaginal infections.
Dr Kean’s research focuses on finding new treatments for bacterial vaginosis (BV) infections which affect 30% of women of childbearing age in the Western world.
BV patients have a three to five times increased risk of miscarriage, two-fold risk of pre-term birth and increased STI transmission risk.
Dr Kean said: “I am delighted that this project has been awarded AMS funding. This is a very prestigious award for a project in a research field that I am very passionate about.
“The funding will allow us to investigate the antimicrobial activity of more than 1,500 drugs to identify leading compounds with potential to treat pathogens which cause bacterial vaginosis.
“This collaborative project between Glasgow Caledonian, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the University of Texas at San Antonio will look at drug repurposing – using off-patent and existing drugs for new therapeutic purposes – to identify new antimicrobials to combat BV.”
Dr Humpton and Dr Kean are lecturers in the Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences and key researchers in the Research Centre for Health (ReaCH) Molecular Mechanisms of Long-Term Conditions Research Group.
They were among 90 emerging research leaders to be awarded funding to advance medical science. Last year, the Department’s blood cancer scientist Dr Mark Williams became the first Glasgow Caledonian researcher to win a Springboard Award.
SHLS Associate Dean Research Professor Sharron Dolan said: “The Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard Award is highly competitive and prestigious, so I was absolutely delighted with the news that, not one but two of the School’s biomedical research lecturers, were successful in their bid to secure an award.
“The generous support provided by the Academy, not just financially but also in career mentorship, will without question propel their research careers to the next level.”
Research group lead Dr David Welsh was also delighted at the news.
He added: “For two awards to come to the Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences pays tribute to the high standard of our scientific academic staff.
“This is the second year in a row that our department has received this award, with the success of Dr Williams in 2022.
“This generous funding will allow our talented staff to shine in their given research areas, and the Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences will support them every step of the way.”
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