Inspiring graduate continues to advance groundbreaking research into Myeloma
Physiological Sciences alumnus and Myeloma patient Peter McCleave raises over £50,000 to fund new research into incurable blood cancer.
11 September 2024
Peter McCleave, a Newcastle University graduate diagnosed with myeloma in 2017, has successfully raised over £50,000 to support a cutting-edge research project at Newcastle University. His efforts will enable the university to launch a pioneering study into the genetics of myeloma, a complex and currently incurable form of blood cancer. He also signed up 112,000 people to a national register of potential stem cell donors.
"There aren’t enough people registered [as donors] at the moment - only about 4% of the UK population - but it’s very much predicated on genetic heritage, your ethnicity. My background is a mix of Chinese, Portuguese, Irish and English. And anyone from a non-white European heritage will struggle to get their stem cell donor match. You’ve got a 25 to 30% chance at best."
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Newcastle University Myeloma Research Project
Myeloma, a blood cancer affecting thousands in the UK annually, has no known cure. Current treatments only aim to extend life, as patients' experiences vary widely due to unique genetic changes in their myeloma cells. Despite significant advances, understanding myeloma's genetic basis remains a challenge.
Thanks to Peter's fundraising, Newcastle University will begin the new myeloma research project in January 2025. This initiative will delve into the genetic intricacies of the disease, employing advanced technologies to explore potential new treatments. Leading the project is Dr. Aneta Mikulasova, a research fellow at Newcastle University's Biosciences Institute, who brings over a decade of experience in cancer genetics.
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