GSK Oncology Scholarship Scientist Selected

Melania Capasso, from the Centre for Cancer & Inflammation, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of  London, was recently announced as the winner of GSK’s first UK Oncology CASE (Collaborative Award in Science and Engineering) PhD Scholarship. Her proposal ‘Investigating the voltage-gated proton channel HVCN1 as a target for
lymphoma treatment’, which will commence in October 2012, was one of 74 submissions received from high profile researchers and institutions UK-wide. The level of interest in the scholarship and the calibre of the finalist
proposals was so high that GSK said it would run the award scheme on an annual basis.

Melania commented: “It is very exciting to  receive this award at a time when funding for research is less available. It is great to have more collaborative projects between industry and academia. This funding will allow us to gain a greater insight into common blood cancers such as lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia that remain incurable
with current treatment. Hopefully it will lead to a new cure to take to the clinic.

” The applications for the awards were reviewed by GSK R&D in the first instance and subsequently evaluated by an independent panel of eminent  internationally-recognised UK oncology and haematology scientific leaders who shortlisted five proposals for
presentation. The Scholarship includes the opportunity for the student to spend at least three months in an industrial environment atthe GSK oncology research laboratories in Pennsylvania, USA.