Jane Hodge fellow starts new research programme

A six-figure gift from the Jane Hodge Foundation has enabled Cardiff University’s European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute to invest in a new research fellowship programme, adding significant resource into the specialised field of cancer stem cell research.

Dr Fernando Afonso joined the Institute on 1 October as a Research Fellow. Over the next four years he will work alongside other established scientists who all have individual specialisms within cancer stem cell research, creating a holistic approach to tackling cancer.

'The Jane Hodge Fellowship will allow me to explore the biological differences between normal blood stem cells with leukaemia-initiating cells, which would allow the development of more specific targets for leukaemia treatment' said Dr Afonso.

Dr Afonso will focus on different signalling pathways and epigenetic control of normal and malignant haematopoiesis.

Fabio Lamprejo also joined the Institute as a PhD student as part of the same programme. Fabio has a BSc in Biochemistry and MSc in Biotechnology and has a background in stem cell biology, thus his knowledge is very valuable for the development of the research line of this programme.