Masonic Charities donation boosts Bradford's cancer therapy work

The donation of £47,500 has been made by Masonic Charities Ltd and will fund a research technician post and consumables for the University’s recently-acquired mass spectrometer.

The donation was celebrated during a visit by former Lord Mayor of London and current Assistant Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, Sir David Wootton.

Sir David, who hails from Bradford and was a pupil at Bradford Grammar School, toured the University’s Institute of Cancer Therapeutics. During his visit he met with Professor Robert Parkin, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Knowledge Transfer), Dr Josie Fraser, Interim Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences and Professor Richard Morgan, Director of the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics.

The cutting edge new generation proteomics mass spectrometer was purchased following the Bradford Crocus Cancer Appeal. The appeal was a local charitable initiative between the University, Yorkshire Cancer Research, The Sovereign Health Care Charitable Trust and the Telegraph and Argus.

Professor Morgan said: “This generous donation by Sir David and his colleagues at Masonic Charities Ltd will boost the opportunities for the discovery and development of new cancer medicines at the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics. The mass spectrometer is already helping our scientists to understand the roles that particular proteins play in the development and spread of cancer, and this additional funding will ensure our capability continues to grow.

“Their generosity has ensured that scientists at the University are now in an even better position to conduct world-leading research in the area of proteomics and use that new knowledge to help develop new anti-cancer medicines.”