Liver and Pancreatic Research Fund (LAPR&D) joins PLANETS

The Liver and Pancreatic Research Fund (LAPR&D), previously a fund of Southampton Hospitals Charity, was incorporated into PLANETS Cancer Charity in November 2022.

LAPR&D, which aims to deliver improvements in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancers of the liver and pancreas, was set up by surgeon Mo Abu Hilal and a group of patients at University Hospital Southampton in 2012.

It has recently allocated £35,000 to a programme of research led by Dr Zaed Hamady and Dr William Tapper, of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre and the University of Southampton, focusing on earlier diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Neil Pearce, a retired consultant surgeon and co-founder of Planets Cancer Charity, said: “We are delighted to welcome LAPR&D on board as we have similar research and development goals while also providing patient support and looking after a wider range of cancers.

“It is an exciting partnership and we will now be looking to support and progress this excellent research programme moving forward.”

As we work to build information about LAPR&D into the PLANETS site, anyone interested in finding out more can visit www.lapcancercharity.com which remains live.