Kirsty's Story: A gift that led to ground-breaking research
Gifts in wills play a crucial role in the development and growth of the University and help to drive pioneering research across the disciplines.
Dr Kirsty Ross, a Clinical Research Fellow in the School of Cancer Sciences received support from a legacy gift that enabled her to undertake a groundbreaking study. This research examined the gut microbiome in connection to breast cancer patients’ response to chemotherapy.
“The work involves researching the gut microbiome. We know that gut bacteria can affect how our immune system is functioning, and we are examining if this then has an impact on how chemotherapy treatment acts upon breast cancer,” explains Kirsty.
“The work we’re doing now is built upon a pilot study I did when I was a masters student. That initial study was funded by a legacy gift. At that early stage in my career, and because the subject was so unknown, it’s very unlikely that I would have received funding through another channel. This project would not have been possible without that gift in a will, it really was the beginning of the journey for me.”
Kirsty’s early research as supported by a gift in the will of David Anderson, who wished to support breast cancer research in memory of his wife Betty.