Breast Cancer Hope

Breast Cancer Hope Awards £50,000 Research Grant to Cardiff University

Breast Cancer Hope is delighted to announce the award of a £50,000 research grant to Cardiff University to support a six-month extension of an important breast cancer research project.

The grant will enable Dr Amber Li to undertake an in-depth functional investigation into the role of PCDH10 in lymphatic metastasis in breast cancer. This extended period of research will provide the opportunity to further explore how PCDH10 contributes to the spread of breast cancer through the lymphatic system, with the aim of advancing our understanding of this critical stage of disease progression.

The Charity will fully fund the requested amount of £50,000, with payment being made in two equal instalments:

£25,000 - payable immediately
£25,000 - payable towards the end of 2026

We are excited by the potential of this research to illuminate a previously unrecognised mechanism of lymphatic invasion and to establish PCDH10 as both a prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target.

Supporting pioneering research remains at the heart of Breast Cancer Hope's mission. By investing in projects such as this, we hope to contribute to the development of better diagnostic tools and more effective treatments, ultimately improving outcomes for people affected by breast cancer.

We wish Dr Amber Li and the research team at Cardiff University every success and look forward to following the progress of this promising work.

Cardiff Medical @ Cardiff University

Breast Cancer Hope provided a grant of £29000 to Cardiff-China medical research collaborative Unit at Cardiff University to support molecular science research in the field of breast cancer including the role of the immune system in fighting breast cancer.

Telomerase Control - Journal Oncotarget

Breast Cancer Hope provided a grant of £100,000 to sponsor Dr Hanna Linne to complete a PhD thesis at Brunel Institute of cancer genetics and pharmacogenomics in the field of telomerase control. The key paper from the thesis was published in highly regarded Journal Oncotarget and the findings enhance our understanding of cancer and opened new avenues for cancer treatment research

University College London and Royal Free Hospital

Breast Cancer Hope provided a grant of £46,000 to UCL and Royal Free Hospital to support recruitment to the International Breast Genome Cohort. This is a collaborative platform that will collect clinical and germline as well as Tumour DNA from breast cancer patients of non-European origin. The focus of this effort is to improve diversity in genomic research and shed further light on factors that affect cancer outcome inequalities.

Cardiff Medical @ Cardiff University

Breast Cancer Hope provided a donation of £121,863.00 to fully fund a UK home based PhD studentship in Cardiff University's Cardiff-China Medical Research Collaborative.
The PhD thesis will explore the prospective clinical, prognostic and therapeutic value of the disialoganglioside GD2 molecule in breast cancer.
The studentship will endeavour to establish links between GD2 and clinical breast cancer, mapping mechanisms of its actions and scoping its potential value for targeting therapeutics.

Breast Cancer Hope Report – Summer 2025

The Breast Cancer Hope Report – Summer 2025 shares the latest updates from Niamh O’Neill’s PhD research, supported by Breast Cancer Hope. The report highlights progress in investigating GD2, a molecule linked to aggressive breast cancers, and explores how targeting its biosynthesis could lead to more effective, less toxic treatments. It also showcases international collaborations, conference presentations, and the impact of donor support in advancing research with real potential to improve outcomes for breast cancer patients. Download the full report (PDF).