Lily presents to South African conference

December 20, 2015

Lily_OguhThird year Phd student Lily Oguh is researching new therapeutic strategies to manage malignant pleura mesothelioma at the University of Hull.  She attended the world’s most important mesothelioma conference, The International Mesothelioma Interest Group,  with a travel award from the June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund.

The conference was hosted at the stately Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in the beautiful rainbow city of Cape Town in South Africa last October.

“A wide range of topics were discussed, with sessions on surgery, epidemiology, molecular biology, immunology, novel therapeutics and so much more, “ said Lily. “I was fortunate to listen to talks from seasoned researchers like  professors Michele Carbone, Dean Fennell, Bruce Robinson, Hedy Kindler, van Meerbeeck and others. I also had the opportunity to meet Laurie Kazan-Allen, one of the patrons of the June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund and a real force for change in the global fight against asbestos. “

Lily also presented some of her own PhD work on the over expression of lipoxygenases (enzymes promoting inflammation and carcinogenesis) in mesothelioma tissue samples and the effect of some newly developed compounds on mesothelioma cells.

“I had the chance to network with scientists from different research groups in various parts of the world. It was indeed an intellectually stimulating conference.   I was also able to explore the beautiful city of Cape Town from the seafront to Table Mountain and the famous Kirtenbosch botanical gardens. The rich culture and lovely memories of centuries past cannot be described.  I would recommend it for a good holiday location.

“I am very grateful to the June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund for the £500 travel award which contributed towards this rewarding experience.  Science is an art; the beauty is seen in the results. This beauty is what scientists aim to behold in mesothelioma in the near future. “