Oddfellows supports breast cancer prevention project

Published: 17 Oct 2025

On Thursday 2 October, representatives of the Oddfellows visited the impressive facilities at the Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC) to present a cheque for £67,068 to Prevent Breast Cancer, courtesy of our HA Andrews Memorial Fund.

(L to R) Anthony Wilby, Jane Nelson, Nikki Barraclough, John Mann, Eva Hughes, Pam Casey and Dr Hannah Harrison

Exploring alternative cancer therapies

The money will fund an innovative breast cancer prevention research project for two years.

Carried out by University of Manchester PhD student Anthony Wilby and Dr Hannah Harrison, the project is aiming to discover alternative preventative breast cancer therapies for pre-menopausal women.

Coinciding with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Oddfellows’ CEO Jane Nelson, Grand Master (Chairman) John Mann, and Pam Casey – the Oddfellows member who nominated the project for funding – were invited by Prevent Breast Cancer for a tour of the Oglesby Cancer Research Building and Paterson Building where Anthony and Hannah are conducting their research in the laboratories. Anthony also delivered a presentation on the research project.

The Oddfellows’ CEO Jane Nelson said: “We really appreciated having the chance to find out more about the Prevent Breast Cancer research project and be shown around the facilities at the Manchester Cancer Research Centre. The work they are doing is not only impressive, but vitally important.

“I know that I speak for everyone involved with the Oddfellows when I say we’re immensely proud that we’re able to do our bit to progress such an important piece of research into cancer prevention.”

Understanding the work undertaken in the labs at the Oglesby Cancer Research Building

First-of-its-kind research

Currently, there are three preventative breast cancer treatment options available to post-menopausal women, but only one drug – Tamoxifen – is used for those who are yet to go through menopause.

Tamoxifen is effective in preventing breast cancer in about a third of high-risk women treated. However, for the other two thirds the drug is ineffective, and more active approaches are required.

Anthony and Hannah’s project uses a first-of-its-kind explant model, which cultures small fragments of human breast tissue in the laboratory to closely replicate the conditions of the human body. The tissue, provided by the MCRC Biobank and predominantly sourced from donors in South Manchester, allows researchers to study how different drugs affect breast tissue in a realistic biological environment.

The team is conducting in-depth studies to compare how tissue cultured and treated in the model resembles matching breast tissue samples collected from clinical prevention trials.

Hannah said: “Our preclinical model offers a unique opportunity to study the effects of current and novel preventative medicines on tissue taken from women who are at high risk of developing breast cancer. This will lead to identification of new drugs and treatments which can be targeted to the women who will respond and will ultimately reduce the risk of breast cancer development.”

Grand Master (Chairman) John Mann getting a closer look at cancer cells

This project brings us one step closer to a future where breast cancer can be stopped before it starts Nikki Barraclough, CEO of Prevent Breast Cancer

The Oddfellows delegation was also joined by Prevent Breast Cancer’s CEO, Nikki Barraclough, and Trusts, Research and Impact Officer, Eva Hughes.

Nikki said: “We’re so grateful to the Oddfellows for its generous support. This funding will help pave the way for better methods to prevent breast cancer in women at high risk – allowing our researchers to test new preventative drugs in the lab.

“At Prevent Breast Cancer, our goal is to get ahead of the disease, and this project brings us one step closer to a future where breast cancer can be stopped before it starts.”

Finding out more about what goes on at the Paterson Building

More info

The HA Andrews Memorial Fund, which was set up in 1971 to back UK-based medical research projects and organisations, has donated almost £1.1m since its launch. Head to our HA Andrews Memorial Fund page to find out more about the Fund, including previous recipients.

Information about Prevent Breast Cancer and its research, and more information on breast cancer awareness, can be found at preventbreastcancer.org.uk, and more on the MCRC at www.mcrc.manchester.ac.uk.