University of Manchester receives $1.3 million international donation to fund new cancer research PhD

The University of Manchester has received a $1.3 million donation from alumna Judith Sear to accelerate the University’s cancer research impact.

The generous gift, which was made to the North American Foundation for The University of Manchester (NAFUM), will create the Sear Family Cancer Research Fund – a dedicated fund within the Foundation’s endowment. The first initiative supported by the fund will be a four-year Sear Family Cancer Research PhD, into which early-career researcher Gala Konteva has recently been recruited. Her research will focus on improving outcomes for lung cancer sufferers.

With Judith having studied at The University of Manchester with her late husband Tim in the 1960s, the Sear family is one of the University’s longest serving and most generous donors in the USA. Their donations have also supported the Manchester Access Programme, the Whitworth Art Gallery and a PhD in African Midwifery.

Judith Sear commented on her latest donation: “We chose to support cancer research at The University of Manchester because cancer directly upended the lives of two generations in our family. We are not alone. We are one family amongst millions around the world forced to cope with an unexpected cancer diagnosis. But while remembering our loved ones lost to cancer, we have been lucky to watch the incredible work carried on in the expanding Manchester Cancer Research Centre. There we have met world-leading scientists who are passionate about building brighter futures for the next generation of cancer patients. 

“By giving to the North American Foundation for The University of Manchester (NAFUM) Endowment, we were able to make this gift in a way that will benefit researchers for generations to come. As a NAFUM Board member for many years, I have seen the impact of US giving made possible through NAFUM. I encourage others to join my family and hundreds of alumni across North America in becoming a supporter.”

NAFUM is an independent foundation that supports the University’s work, by allowing donors based in North America to give tax efficiently and support research and student support initiatives at the University.

Gala said of her research: “The focus of my PhD project will be to develop a novel therapeutic approach for lung cancer by inhibiting a protein called p38α, a member of the MAPK signalling pathway. This protein plays a crucial role in the immune system, particularly in inflammation, and typically protects against cancer.

“However, in lung adenocarcinoma, it promotes tumour progression and represents a promising target for cancer therapies. There have been several clinical trials of other p38α inhibitors in lung cancer, however, none of them have been successful. My work on these novel peptide inhibitors, an alternative to traditional chemical drugs, has the potential to contribute to the development of targeted therapies, which could improve treatment options for patients suffering from lung cancer.”

Manchester is a bustling centre for cancer research, with The University of Manchester, Cancer Research UK and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust working in partnership to drive cutting-edge discovery at the Manchester Cancer Research Centre. The city is also home to the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute which spans the entire spectrum of cancer research.

Professor Stephen Taylor, Head of Division for Cancer Sciences at The University of Manchester said: “Under the fast-paced research landscape today, our understanding of cancer’s causes and how to treat it is constantly evolving. And for the researchers focused on bringing safer and more effective treatments to patients, determination is limitless.

“But our funds are not limitless, making donations from generous philanthropists – especially those living overseas – absolutely crucial to the UK’s cancer research efforts. Working towards the eradication of cancer is a global effort, and we are incredibly grateful for the support of our donors, partners and colleagues around the world for their commitment to this shared goal.”