Two scientists at the University of Aberdeen who are involved in key breast cancer research have been honoured for their work at a prestigious reception at the House of Lords.
Last night leading charity Breast Cancer Campaign awarded Dr Andy Schofield and Sarah McDonald - Best Research Team of the Year.
Breast Cancer Campaign chose the duo from 45 UK teams. These teams are being funded by the Charity to the tune of £4.7 million to carry out research into the disease.
Dr Schofield, principal investigator, and Ms McDonald, researcher, received money to investigate why some breast cancer patients respond better than others to chemotherapy. By understanding why, they hope to develop strategies to overcome drug resistance in those patients.
Dr Schofield is thrilled about the accolade, which is awarded to only one team a year.
He said: "Being recognised as the Team of the Year by Breast Cancer Campaign is a fantastic achievement. It's an award for the whole team currently working in the research group.
"We are part of a multi-disciplinary research team, working in close collaboration with the doctors and patients in the Breast Unit at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and with the support of NHS Grampian. Our achievement recognises all the hard work and dedication from everyone involved in our work. The reason for this success is the very close relationship of patients, clinicians and scientists all working together for the benefit of patients. "
Professor Steven Heys, consultant surgeon in the Breast Unit, said: "This award reflects the high quality of research being undertaken by Dr Schofield and his research team in Aberdeen."
Pamela Goldberg, Chief Executive of Breast Cancer Campaign, added: "Breast Cancer Campaign is committed to working together with our funded scientists to publicise the results of their research and to ensure that these benefits are bought to the patient as quickly as possible.
"Breast Cancer Campaign's Team of the Year award sets out to commend the research team who has, during the last year, been the most successful in publishing and presenting the results of their research, and for their continued commitment into researching the cure for breast cancer. An overwhelming number of publications, eight in 2003 and another three currently in submission this year along with six spoken presentations and eight poster presentations made Dr Andrew Schofield and his team the clear award winners."
The award was handed over to the Aberdeen researchers at what is an annual event organised by the Charity. The reception at the House of Lords brings together the Charity's long term supporters from all over Britain, doctors and scientists who work in partnership with the Charity, politicians from both Houses and leading figures in the field of breast cancer research.