The Roger Harris Fund
Roger Harris CBE was a Senior Partner in the local offices of the KPMG. Widely respected, he is fondly remembered by many as a great champion of business across the counties of Devon and Cornwall for whom he achieved a lasting legacy. In 2015 he contracted an aggressive brain tumour and died in 2017. Many will be aware the neurosurgical unit at Derriford provides a specialist service for patients living in Cornwall, Devon and parts of Somerset. Perhaps less well known is that alongside this service a truly World class team of scientists have built an international reputation for excellence in Brain Tumour research. The charity has been a long-term supporter of such research and all profits from the evening will be allocated to the Foundation’s ‘Roger Harris Fund’ and used for equipment and scientists working in the unit. Our target for the evening is £22,000. Since the fund was set up in 2019 it has contributed over £100,000 towards this vital work.
There are several ways in which you can support the cause, have a wonderful evening with colleagues or friends old and new while remembering those who, like Roger, have had their futures stolen by this particularly cruel cancer.
We have ambitiously set out to raise £274,000, the amount needed to fund 100 days of cancer research in Plymouth.
As a mark of this significant achievement, and of Roger’s life, a laboratory will be named after him in the University’s Derriford Research Facility.
Sadly survival rates from brain tumours today are poor, only one person in five is alive five years after diagnosis. This is because research has been underfunded in the past.
The University is one of only four UK Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence in the UK, unique in its focus to discover treatments and cures for low-grade brain tumours.
Low-grade brain tumours grow slowly and our research team, led by Professor Oliver Hanemann are getting closer to understanding why some become cancerous. There is a real drive to move from laboratory-based research into translational research as quickly as possible and to trial new drug treatments with patients.
“We focus on meningiomas, the most frequent primary brain tumour alongside other low grade tumours. These tumours develop in the layers of tissue that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord and, they progress from low grade to more dangerous forms of cancer or the brain and/or nervous system. No one knows why these slow-growing tumours become malignant, but it’s a question we’re getting closer to answering.
We need to raise £2,740 a day to cover the cost of our research. I want to thank Roger Harris’ family and friends for their inspiring goal to fund 100 days of research. With your donation, our research will move ahead and give hope to many patients and their families.”
Oliver Hanemann
Director, Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine (ITSMed)
Based in the new Derriford Research Facility, Professor Oliver Hanemann and his team’s world-leading research focuses on identifying and understanding the mechanisms that make a cell become cancerous and exploring ways in which to halt or reverse this process.
They are working to find new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for low-grade brain tumours, to test new drugs and to investigate how existing drugs could be re-purposed as therapies for brain tumours. Currently there are no effective chemotherapy or drug treatments for meningiomas of any grade, so this research is vital.
“Many of you across the South West will have known Roger Harris. His involvement as president of Plymouth Albion RFC and his long career at KPMG in the city gave him much fulfilment and pleasure. Over the years he held many other roles across the city – too many to name – and gave so much of his time for the benefit of this region.
Above everything I remember Roger for his intellect, integrity and sense of humour. It was a tremendous blow to us all when we lost Roger to a brain tumour. When I learned that world-leading research into brain tumours was happening right here in Plymouth, it seemed fitting to try and do something in his memory.
I hope you will join me in the fight against cancer, by funding an hour, a day, or even a week’s research, right here in Plymouth.”
Ian Brokenshire
Partner, KPMG
“This year, I’m partnering with the Peninsula Medical Foundation and the University of Plymouth to raise funds for brain tumour research in Roger’s memory.
When Roger was diagnosed with a brain tumour he characteristically wanted ‘no fuss’. But together we must work to find a cure and treatments for cancer, such a dreadful disease.
Today, another 44 people will learn they have a brain tumour. My hope is that this research will make a difference to their lives.
Thank you for your support.”
Joy Harris
March is Brain Tumour Awareness Month
The University is recognised as a Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence. It is one of only four in the UK with a unique focus on low-grade brain tumours.
Professor Oliver Hanemann and his dedicated team of researchers at the Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine HQ are carrying out world-leading research to discover treatments and ultimately, a cure for brain tumours.
Join us this March in the fight to raise awareness and vital funds to help save lives.
