UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH

Mark Sommerville, a dad with motor neurone disease, received Prime Minister Keir Starmer's support for his campaign to increase research funding. Starmer pledged, "We stand with you in this fight." Mark emphasized the need for more funding and research to find a cure for MND, highlighting slow progress over 50 years. He founded the Mark Sommerville Foundation to boost research efforts.

A trial suggests 'watch and wait' approach may be safe for low-risk DCIS breast cancer, potentially avoiding invasive treatments. Experts propose redefining DCIS as not cancer. Other breakthroughs include new drugs and weight-loss jabs for cancer prevention and treatment.

A study suggests some breast cancer patients may safely skip post-mastectomy chest wall radiation, as it showed no influence on 10-year overall survival for those with intermediate-risk breast cancer.

UK tech market saw 150 significant deals in 2024, with AI businesses attracting significant investment. Notable deals include Kriya's £50m funding, Carcinotech's £4.2m, and British Business Bank's £660m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II. Part 1 covers January-June, Part 2 to cover July-December.

A study emphasizes the need for a holistic policy approach to curb CO2 emissions, advocating for a balanced approach between carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon capture and use (CCU). The UK Government's preference for CCS over CCU is influencing companies, potentially hindering the bioeconomy. The study highlights the importance of considering both environmental impacts and fossil fuel savings in CCU incentives, and calls for a synergistic approach to reduce atmospheric CO2 effectively.

Wouter Masselink investigates mechanical principles of vertebrae regeneration in axolotls, focusing on mechanical forces and cell responses, with potential implications for spine injury therapies.

BIG 2-04 MRC SUPREMO trial results show no significant difference in 10-year overall survival for intermediate-risk breast cancer patients whether or not they received chest wall irradiation post-mastectomy. Chest wall irradiation reduced chest wall recurrence risk but by less than 2%, deemed clinically insignificant. The findings suggest chest wall irradiation may not be necessary for some patients, impacting shared decision-making.

BIG 2-04 MRC SUPREMO trial results show no significant difference in 10-year overall survival between patients with intermediate-risk breast cancer who received chest wall irradiation (CWI) post-mastectomy and those who did not. CWI reduced chest wall recurrence risk but had a clinically insignificant impact on survival, suggesting CWI may not be necessary for some patients.

A new gene therapy research centre, jointly funded by the MRC and BHF, aims to develop therapies for heart repair and regeneration in heart attack and heart failure patients. Led by researchers at UK universities, the centre seeks to reawaken regenerative processes in damaged human hearts, potentially transforming heart disease treatment.

CHaRT and ACE teams collaborated with the University of Edinburgh for the 2024 Edinburgh Clinical Trial Management Course. Attendees, including PhD researchers and trial managers, found the course insightful, educational, and inspiring, with key highlights being Prof. Derek Stewart's talk on patient involvement and Prof. Louise Bowman's session on trial monitoring efficiency.