Sir Terry Matthews hosts cancer summit

Telecoms tycoon Sir Terry Matthews will be hosting the international three-day (24-26 July) 'Targeting Cancer Conference' at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales.The conference will be dedicated to the theme of Cancer Stem Cells; luminaries in the field of cancer research will convene from across the world to impart their cutting-edge research.

At the conference, Director of the University's European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute (ECSRCI) Professor Alan Clarke will unveil the Institute's new approach to tackling cancer.

Sharing the team's latest findings, Professor Clarke will address how the University's cancer stem cell concept might be used to target cancer, and in the long term improve the prognosis for patients and develop new cancer therapies.

Speaking of this new strategy, Professor Clarke explained: "Cancer stem cells account for only a small proportion of cells in a tumour. However, they could be crucial to the way tumours form, grow and spread.

"The Research Institute will investigate the possibility that therapies aimed at cancer stem cells alone will offer a better success rate for cancer sufferers and will, we hope, markedly improve survival rates."

Speaking as Patron for the European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Sir Terry Matthews said:

"The impact of Professor Alan Clarke and his team's cancer research has implications way beyond the UK with potential to be world-leading and a huge gain to humanity. I wholeheartedly champion its efforts to develop new treatments across a broad range of cancers."

Among those attending the conference will be Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Riordan, Nobel Prize Winner Sir Martin Evans, Mr Simon Gibson OBE, Lady Judith Evans and Professor Ole Petersen.

The ECSCRI will in the coming months be moving its laboratory and research space to a brand new state-of-the-art facility in the Hadyn Ellis Building in the University's Maindy Park Campus.