Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes visited the Institute of Genetics and Cancer (IGC) to announce funding for an anti-cancer drug that researchers believe may be up to 500 times more effective than current treatments. Researchers at IGC have discovered a novel inhibitor of a protein called mTOR, which is driving many types of malignant tumours. The project has received pilot funding of £125,000 to support its development into treatment for solid and blood cancers.It is among 18 projects funded from the £2.95 million Proof of Concept Fund to support the commercialisation of ground-breaking research across ten Scottish universities.Ms Forbes saw presentations from the three successful University of Edinburgh projects, including a demonstration by Asier Unciti-Broceta, during a visit to IGC. Scotland’s world-class universities have the ideas and inventions to help tackle global problems and improve lives. This new Proof of Concept Fund and will help bridge the gap between theory and practice, translating research into real-world impact which in turn drives Scotland’s economic transformation. The successful projects that we are supporting are quite simply inspiring. They have the potential to be lifesaving and life changing. Kate Forbes Deputy First Minister Thanks to the Scottish Government Proof of Concept Fund, we will be able to accelerate the development of an exciting drug discovery programme targeting cancers of unmet need and attract pharma interest to bring this drug candidate to the clinic. Asier Unciti-Broceta Personal Chair of Medicinal Chemistry Asier Unciti-Broceta Research Group More information about Proof of Concept Fund awards (external website) Tags 2025 Publication date 02 Oct, 2025
