Largest pancreatic cancer funding boost in Wales

Amser Justin Time, the charity founded in 2008 by Welsh TV and Radio personality Shân Cothi, has made a substantial donation to the European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute to help in the fight against pancreatic cancer, which was announced at a special event held at the Institute at the beginning of November's Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.

In September 2007, Justin Smith a young and talented musician and film producer (also known as Pepsi Tate from Welsh rock band Tigertailz) died from inoperable pancreatic cancer. His wife Shân decided to start a Welsh charity in memory of him with the simple aim of helping pancreatic cancer patients, their friends and their relatives. Since then, the charity has helped to raise awareness of this disease and to help patients, families and friends to cope via numerous fundraising events.

Shân Cothi said of the donation: "It's a privilege to be able to donate the sum of £102,263 in Justin's name to further the research into pancreatic cancer. We have been trying to identify a project aimed specifically at pancreatic cancer for some time and were thrilled when the opportunity arose to work in partnership with the Institute.  It's the lack of pancreatic cancer research and development that inspired the birth of Amser Justin Time."

Director of the Institute, Professor Clarke said: "Pancreatic cancer currently has one of the lowest five-year survival rates in Europe. It is incredibly difficult to diagnose until it is almost too late for the patient. We are determined to help change this and we rely on donations such as those from Amser Justin Time. It is an honour to receive this substantial donation, especially from a charity local to the Institute."

The funding boost will fund the work of pancreatic cancer Research Associate Dr Sean Porazinski, working under Research Fellow Dr Catherine Hogan. Dr Porazinski, is delighted to be able to continue his research at the Institute, thanks to the generous donation provided by Amser Justin Time. "As one of the most aggressive forms of the disease, working with pancreatic cancer is a great challenge and one I'm thrilled to be able to continue with here in Cardiff. Ultimately, our aim is to contribute to establishing much earlier diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and to look for ways to develop new therapies to directly benefit patients with this condition."