News and updates

Efstathios Vassiladis completed his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in 2011 at the University of Bradford. 

He is currently Chief Executive Officer at Evnia Group, which provides medical device, pharma and biotech industries with specialised consulting services. He is also Chief Executive Officer at OARK. 

Efstathios supports the University as a donor toward the Bradford Futures Fund, supporting students facing the most challenges in accessing and remaining in higher education.

You can read our interview and Q&A with Efsthatios here

Asif Ghafoor completed his degree in Business Studies in 1992 at the University of Bradford.

He is currently the CEO of Be.EV, the largest electric vehicle charging network across Greater Manchester, and Co-Founder of Iduna, which develops new infrastructure in the mobility, telecommunications, and energy sectors.

Click on the link to read our interview with Q&A with Asif Ghafoor

Gill is an alumnus of the University having completed a degree in Pharmacy in 1973, returning to comple her PhD in 1999, and receiving an Honorary Degree in 2005.

She was a member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Council from 1992 until 2000 and became a Fellow of the RPS in 1997. She continued to be recognised for her commitment to pharmacy, winning the Schering Award in 1999 and was awarded an MBE for services to pharmacy in 2002.

Gill has supported the University through donations made towards the 50^th Anniversary Scholarship appeal, and more recently the Bradford Futures Fund.

Click on the link to read our interview with Q&A with Gill Hawksworth

Peter Ellemann is an alumnus of the University of Bradford having completed a BEng in Chemical Engineering with Management Economics in 1986. Peter is a loan syndication professional, working with groups of lenders to fund large loans for borrowers. 

Peter has held roles with a number of banks in London, Paris, and Hong Kong, and was Head of Loan Syndications for Europe at ANZ in London. Peter is now Managing Director for Loan Syndications at ABN AMRO Bank N.V.

Click on the link to read our interview with Peter Ellemann

Thanks to a significant gift towards the Bradford Futures Fund from alumnus and tech entrepreneur, Dr Rob Wilmot, we have been able to establish a ten-year programme of scholarships allowing us to support students through this fund untill at least 2031/32.

Click on the link to read our interview with Rob Q&A with Dr Rob Wilmot

Regular donors make a significant impact to the University of Bradford. Keith is an alumnus of the University of Bradford, having studied Pharmacy, graduating in 1975, he donates monthly towards the Institute of Cancer Therepeutics. 

Keith wanted to share his story about his time at Bradford and why he chose to support cancer research.

Click on the link to read our interview with Keith Q&A with Keith Long

"I left my birth country back in 2010 and arrived in UK in June of that same year. Unfortunately, my asylum was at first refused, but in 2013 the Home Office granted me a limited leave to remain after I formed a family here in Bradford.  

"Receiving this scholarship means a lot to me, it is an opportunity which is not given to everyone. I would not have been in a position to self sponsor my studies due to my limited income, without the scholarship I would have had to give up my ambition of completing my academic journey. Thanks to this scholarship, I  can get the degree which will position me in society and I will be a asset in the job market. 

"I would to wholeheartedly like to thank the University of Bradford and its donors for their generosity by giving a chance to people whose access to education is shut due to the current system in place. Your actions are changing lifes like mine to better themselves in achieving something great in education and life."

“I was born and raised in Peshawar, a city that faces hostility from the Tehreek-E-Taliban. Over the years they have destroyed the city’s infrastructure, and instilled psychological fear in the inhabitants of Peshawar. The Taliban were also a constant major threat to the female education system.    

“I was lucky to grow up in a household where education was considered a necessity for life. My parents got me enrolled in one of the best schools in Peshawar, but unfortunately having the freedom of education would not last long. In 2009 a bomb near my school killed 100 people. Attacks from the Taliban continued, leading to the closure of educational institutions and women being confined to their homes.  

“The Taliban proceeded onwards with their goal to disrupt education for girls. This led to the deadliest attack ever on a school in any country in history. In 2014, I was in a lecture room, and then out of nowhere the streets of Peshawar were filled with the sound of ambulance sirens. This attack took 145 lives – the majority of those of students.    

“Instead of dreaming of my future career every night, I got used to nightmares filled with fear and dread. This impacted not only my education but impacted me psychologically 

“Many girls of my age decided to join Madrasas – Islamic religious schools - which were relatively safer, but I could not allow myself to give up on my plans. My enthusiasm, determination, and motivation to pursue higher education was strengthened by the idea that I would be taking a stand to support all girls who faced cultural gender discrimination to their right to education.    

 “In 2016 I succeeded in gaining admission to an engineering college. I worked with a group of girls to create ‘WIE; Women in Engineering’. The purpose of this group was to empower women in the field of Engineering. This marked the start of my journey to help make women future leaders, and in our first year we arranged a public seminar, ‘EFFE: Empowering Future Female Engineers’. By 2017, I started training the junior girls and encouraged them to learn documentation, communication, and governance skills, so that WIE could be taken onwards by the next generation of students. 

“I went on to successfully completed my bachelor’s degree in civil engineering with good grades, but I am especially proud of my work at this time to make myself and other girls aware of their self-worth and their right to make their own choices whether about their own career or any other aspect of life.    

“This scholarship is not only beneficial to me in terms of higher education but will help me to grow as an individual.  

“I am incredibly grateful to you for creating this scholarship, for providing an opportunity to talented and passionate students from Pakistan to pursue their higher education at this prestigious institution. Thanks to you, the lifelong dreams of many under-privileged Pakistani students will be fulfilled.” 

“I am extremely honoured and thankful to be one of the recipients of the Bestway Foundation Scholarship. Thanks to your generous support, I am not only the first in my family to study abroad, but I also hope to be an inspiration for the families back in my hometown, with similar underprivileged backgrounds. As I have been able to come to the UK to study, they now look up to me as a role model, especially the female students. Being able to pursue my educational ambitions would not be possible without this scholarship.  

“Pursuing higher studies at the University of Bradford has provided me with a chance to enhance my knowledge and my skills by studying with a diverse group of people. I want to take it to the next level where I can make a more meaningful impact on my society. I want to put my efforts into research in computer science, as well as the empowerment of women in higher education in Pakistan. Thanks to the support from The Bestway Scholarship where higher education is normally just a dream for girls like me, this has become a reality.” 

"I came from a country where I didn’t have any basic rights as a child including education. With all the privation we lived in, my family had to always face life-threatening circumstances. In 2016 I began my collage experience taking Biology, math and chemistry at Xaverian College, towards the end of my A levels course I was shocked with the terrible news that I won't be able to pursue a life at university my family’s asylum claim was rejected, this took a big toll on me mentally.​

"Receiving this scholarship unlocked the doors to my dreams and the time that the offer came in it was lifechanging moment. I was in a time when I felt nothing was going my way and the news of the scholarship made me think differently. ​

"Bradford University changed not only my life but my families, who were going through a tragic time after the loss of my father, this scholarship was a beaming light in dark times. ​

"There isn’t enough words to show my appreciation and thankfulness to everyone who helps making these awards possible. This opportunity given to me has revived my life and given me hope to believe in what I thought is impossible. ​

"Thank you to everyone who has participated in this act which I believe is an influence and a mark that will never be erased on recipient individuals including me."​

"Being an asylum seeker and single parent, my journey from escaping and leaving my home country in search of safety was difficult. I had very different experiences throughout this journey, and it has motivated me to further my studies in the field of Peacebuilding and Conflict resolution. ​

"I was not able to afford university on my own as I was not allowed to get any student funding or loan due to my immigration status in the UK. Through this scholarship, I will be able to get a qualification that will open endless opportunities for me. I can build a good future for myself and for my son and play my effective role in society. ​

"Words cannot describe how thankful I am for this life-changing opportunity. Without this, I couldn't fulfil my dream or aim high for my future."

"Being a part of this University is more than an education, it is where I can become involved in the Bradford Community, where I can meet new people, and help other individuals when they are in need. 

"This Scholarship has removed the financial barriers and will allow me to focus on my course, reducing the risk of dropping out and not getting my degree. Now I can continue my training to become an Adult Nurse, and to provide the quality of care for my patients.

"I am honoured to receive this scholarship."

"It is highly appreciable that Bestway Foundation is supporting scholarships for students from Pakistan. Truly it is a once in a lifetime opportunity for students like me coming from a developing world, to pursue higher education and accomplish goals without involving in money matters. It would not have been possible for me to receive this world-class degree without Bestway Foundation Scholarship. Simply, this scholarship has provided me with the finances to fulfil my dream of serving my country socially and technologically

"I am short of words to thank the Bestway Foundation that has made this scholarship possible. Coming from a humble background, the scholarship has provided me with an equal opportunity to shift my entire focus towards studies and the attainment of future goals. The altruism shown by the Bestway Foundation has motivated me further to work for the well-being of others selflessly as they did."

Dr Ruiz graduated in Biochemistry from the University of Havana, Cuba. She completed her PhD in Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology at the Autonomous University of Madrid. Her PhD research project focused on developing magnetic nanoparticles for different biotechnological and biomedical applications. Previously, Dr Ruiz held different postdoctoral positions across Cuba and Europe.

Click on the link to read our interview with Dr Amalia Ruiz Estrada  

The University is very thankful to our donors who give towards the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, for funding a new PhD studentship.

Jamie Morton received the PhD studentship, after completing his undergraduate and master's degrees at Newcastle University and being involved in prostate cancer research at Newcastle University's Center for Cancer.

Jamie had this to say about his PhD.

"During my undergraduate and master’s degrees at Newcastle University, I was involved in prostate cancer research within the Newcastle University’s Centre for Cancer. The work was incredibly interesting and engaging, permitting me to integrate knowledge gained from multiple study modules within a practical environment. My focus was “the interaction between cancer DNA repair mechanisms and external signals, such as androgen/oestrogen signalling and DNA damage response elements”. This resulted in my interest in signalling pathways in cancer and their impact on gene expression and more specifically how the inhibition of elements of one pathway can also alter another pathway in unexpected and interesting ways.  

"Post completing my Masters, I decided to take a gap year, where I undertook a course in high-quality cooking at the Orchards School of Cookery before securing a contract as a chalet chef in Morzine, France. This enabled me to indulge my love of travel, and skiing and despite enjoying myself thoroughly, the experience served to reinforce my desire to complete a PhD and start a career in research. 

"The main axis of my project revolves around hypoxia in cancer. Hypoxic cancer cells represent a subset of cells in solid tumours that are resistant to chemotherapy and other DNA-damaging agents. Researchers from the University of Bradford’s Institute of Cancer Therapeutics identified Senataxin as a key player in this resistance, through its ability to resolve DNA structures called R-Loops. R loops occur normally in cells during their lifetime, however when treated with chemotherapy cancer cells will accumulate R loops which, if left unresolved, will lead to DNA damage. Through continued research, we have found an enzyme (USP11) that controls the destruction of Senataxin. USP11 could be a drug target that would re-sensitise these cells to chemotherapy. 

"Mitoxatrone is an already available chemotherapy compound that has been previously suggested to act as a USP11 inhibitor. Our plan moving forward is to synthesise and screen derivatives of this drug in the hopes that we can identify suitable compounds that would target USP11 specifically and test their ability to re-sensitise hypoxic cancer cells to chemotherapy. 

"Receiving this funded PhD means a great deal to me as it provides the opportunity to work in a research environment surrounded by fantastic researchers whom I hope to learn a great deal from. Additionally, I hope that my research will help us in the eventual development of effective treatments for a number of cancers. It will provide me with a solid foundation of practical research skills, in addition to enhancing my own abilities to design experiments and explore avenues of research. And it will introduce me to the greater scientific community, giving me the opportunity to interact and learn from a number of experienced persons and gain a greater understanding of research fields across the spectrum of science. 

"I would like to thank those who have enable the funding of this studentship. It has allowed me to continue to pursue the goals of discovering, designing and developing therapies, treatments, and management options for a variety of cancers. I personally would like to thank you as your support has helped me to follow my passion for research and I sincerely desire that my research would help in the development of new therapeutics."

In 2022 the University received a significant donation from the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF), which pledged £211,632 over a five-year period to fund research into new ways of treating prostate cancer. The donation will support three PhD studentships at the University's Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, the first of which is due to start in early 2023. 

The PhD studentships will be named 'The Masonic Charitable Foundation Bradford Clinical Scholars' and will look at improving the efficiency of existing therapies for prostate cancer, as well as developing new treatments.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer, with one in six UK males diagnosed in their lifetime, and more than 11,000 people dying from the condition each year. We are very grateful to the MCF for providing this funding and helping us in the fight against cancer.

Professor Sherif El-Khamisy, Director of the ICT, has made a major breakthrough in the understanding of how DNA repairs itself.

The discovery was made after Professor El-Khamisy and his team of researchers we examining proteins in the cerebellum - the part of the brain responsible for motor function - when they encountered something extraordinary.

He explains

"When looking at the cells, we found a high concentration of nuclear mitotic apparatus protein (NuMA), which is primarily responsible for cell division. 

"What was found in this work is that those breaks also occur in the 'junk' DNA, and what is interesting about that is that the repair of those breaks plays a very important role in the production of proteins from the coding regions.

We have discovered how this process is done, by finding the key players, one of which is the NuMA protein. We already knew it played an important role in putting chromosomes together when cells divide but no one could have imagined it plays a very different - but equally important- role in fixing DNA breaks in the non-coding regions."

It is hoped that this discovery will lead to the development of improved cancer diagnosis and treatment, as well as improvements in a variety of other conditions including dementia and motor neurone disease.

In 2013 the University launched the Bradford Cancer Crocus Appeal, to raise money for a new Orbitrap mass spectrometer – an essential piece of equipment in developing new cancer treatments. Over the course of two years, more than £1 million was raised, and the new mass spectrometer was purchased.

Over this time, our researchers have been developing a Crocus Smart-Bomb which effectively combats solid tumours whilst minimising damage to the rest of the body, reducing the side-effects associated with traditional chemotherapies and improving patient prognoses and survival.

We are proud to say that the Crocus Smart-Bomb has now entered Phase 1 Clinical Trials in hospitals across Yorkshire

Here at Bradford, we are working hard to develop new treatments to beat cancer. Our researchers are developing a new generation of pro-drugs – drugs that activate after being metabolised within the body.

This next generation of pro-drugs can be tailored according to a person’s condition and genetic profile. This will optimise the delivery of cancer treatments, minimising negative side effects, and improve recovery and prognosis.

We expect these treatments will be effective in combatting a wide range of adult and children’s cancers by targeting cells and reducing the need for invasive chemotherapy.

These new interventions could revolutionise the treatment of cancer.

Scientists within the ICT are exploring the connection between naked mole-rats – a rodent native to West Africa – and important new treatments for diseases such as cancer and dementia. Researchers at the University say the animals have a unique DNA repair mechanism that enables them to prevent cancer and other degenerative conditions, including dementia.

Professor Sherif El-Khamisy, Director of the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics at the University, said:

“Naked mole-rats are fascinating creatures, not least because they are so long-lived compared to other rodents of the same size. They also do not suffer from age-associated disorders, such as cancer, dementia, and neurological decline.

“What we’re trying to do is to understand what makes them so resistant and then to try to harness that knowledge to come up with new treatments for cancer and conditions like dementia in people."