Cancer and Protein Crystallography

07/06/11 • 5 min

Professor Yvonne Jones talks about cell-cell communication and how this can help us develop new drugs. Cells communicate through receptors on their surface; however, when these finely tuned systems don't work correctly, diseases can be triggered. Professor Yvonne Jones has been working to identify the structural biology of cell surface recognition and signalling complexes. Receptors embedded in the surface are potential targets for therapeutic intervention in many diseases including cancer. Professor Jones is director of the Cancer Research UK Receptor Structure Research Group.

Previous Episode

Role of Lifestyle and Diet in Cancer

Professor Tim Key tells us about the role of life style and diet in the development of cancer. Although smoking is still the most important cause of cancer, we now know that obesity and high intakes of alcohol can increase the risk of several types of cancer. Professor Tim Key is researching the role of diet and hormones in the development of cancer, particularly cancers of the breast, prostate and bowel. Professor Key is the principal investigator of the EPIC-Oxford cohort of sixty thousand participants, for various studies on cancer, hormones and nutrition.

Next Episode

Palliative Care

Dr Bee Wee tells us about Palliative Care in Oxford and her research on end of life care and fatigue. Due to advances in medicine prolonging the lives of those with progressive, life limiting diseases, the need for long-term palliative care has increased. Dr Bee Wee is currently researching end of life care for people with incurable cancer and advanced non-malignant disease, symptom management and rehabilitation, to improve quality of life for patients. Dr Wee is the Head of Palliative Care Research and Development, based at Sir Michael Sobell House in Oxford.