Nucleofector

Fundraising for vital equipment to aid in brain tumour research

What does it do?

The nucleofector injects DNA (genes) into human cells.

What research would this support?

We study the genes involved in the development of brain tumours, with a strong focus on glioblastoma, the most common and lethal brain tumour which has an average survival time of only 15 months from diagnosis. Using this knowledge aim to develop new therapies to treat these tumours.

Why is it needed?

We isolate and study glioblastoma cells from tumours surgically removed from patients. The nucleofectorwill dramatically advance our research in two areas:

(i) it will allow us to ‘correct’ genetic defects we identify in glioblastoma cells to determine what this does to the growth of the tumour cells in the laboratory and in animal models. Using this information we can assess which genetic effects are likely to be good targets for new therapies.

(ii) it will allow us to ‘label’ the patient cells so that they can be implanted in mice and their growth as a tumour observed in the mice in response to treatment of the mice with new potential glioblastoma therapies.

Researchers: Professor Stuart Pitson Centre for Cancer Biology