£75k boost for cancer microscope

Published on 10/07/2012 12:00

A MICROSCOPE which it is hoped will revolutionise the detection and treatment of cancer in Scotland has received a further £75,000 fundraising boost.

Scientists in the Capital now have enough money to put the state-of-the-art microscope to work, thanks to generous party goers at an event attended by former I’m A Celebrity winner Christopher Biggins.

The piece of equipment allows researchers to see what is going on deep within living tissue.

It is hoped the new images will also reveal clues about the way in which cancers grow and spread.

And in addition the technology will allow scientists to directly witness the effects of treatments on tumours.

The device cost just over £340,000, with funding coming from Cancer Research UK, and supporting funds from the Medical Research Council and the University of Edinburgh.

The microscope is housed in the CRUK Cancer Centre and Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine in 
Edinburgh.