The University of Dundee, a research-based University in Scotland has awarded an Indian researcher ‘Dr Sourav Banerjee’ the ‘UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship’ for his research into the diagnosis and detection of stage IV brain cancer. Dr Banerjee is a part of the Dundee’s School of Medicine which is concerned with medical education and clinical research at the University. The £1.49 million award will allow Dr Banerjee to collaborate with researchers and clinicians at the Universities of Dundee and Edinburgh, Imperial College London and the Mayo Clinic USA. 

Glioblastoma multiforme of Stage IV glioma has very poor survival with very limited prognosis. Currently only one out of five patients will survive longer than five years of stage IV brain cancer diagnosis. Dr Banerjee’s research is focussed on the role of extracellular post-translational modifications in regulating Glioblastoma multiforme progression. Multiple extracellular substrates like growth factors, interleukins and cytokines are highly overexpressed and phosphorylated during the progression of glioma malignancy. The laboratory will focus on elucidating the oncogenic role(s) of those extracellular phosphorylation’s and identify novel predictive and prognostic biomarkers for glioblastoma. His research will strive to establish predictive, prognostic, and therapeutic biomarkers of Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM). The research will also strive to establish a blood-test to detect progression of low-grade to high-grade brain tumours, a development that could transform the prospects for brain cancer patients.

“I am elated by the confidence UKRI has shown in my research programme. The funding will allow me to take my ideas forward and establish novel therapeutic paradigms for GBM patients. I thank the Future Leaders Fellowship team, mentors, and all my collaborators and colleagues at Dundee and beyond for their continuing support,” Dr Sourav Banerjee, Principal Investigator Cellular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee said.