At the recent Anthony Nolan Supporter Awards (ANSAs) 2023 two individuals were recognized for their exceptional contributions to lifesaving research in the field of blood cancer.

1. Dr. Robert Wynn: He is a Consultant Paediatric Haematologist at the Manchester Children’s Hospital. Dr. Wynn was awarded the Clinical Supporter of the Year for his outstanding work in promoting cord blood research. Cord blood, which is taken from the umbilical cord and placenta at birth, is a valuable source of donor-derived stem cells that can be used to research and treat blood cancers. It’s similar to bone marrow in adults and can be transplanted with promising results in curing blood cancers like leukemia. Dr. Wynn’s dedication ensures that patients have access to this valuable source of stem cells when they need it most.
2. Hatem Nawar: He is a Cloud Customer Engineer for Google Cloud. Nawar received the Scientific Supporter of the Year award for his research on improving the accuracy of stem cell matches between patients and donors using Google Cloud technology. As gene sequencing techniques have evolved, labs can run multiple sequences at once, making manual analysis almost impossible. Google Cloud technology has enabled Anthony Nolan to continue performing cutting-edge sequencing through its improved storage capacities and flexible computing capabilities without wasting resources. Nawar’s work has helped make more accurate matches of DNA between the cell donor and recipient.

The awards were presented at a ceremony held at the Tower of London on June 14th. This was the first in-person awards ceremony since the pandemic began.

The Anthony Nolan charity uses its register to match potential stem cell donors to blood cancer and blood disorder patients in need of stem cell transplants. It also carries out pioneering research to increase stem cell transplant success and supports patients through their transplant journeys. Every day, Anthony Nolan gives three people a second chance at life.

A stem cell transplant can be a lifesaver for patients with conditions that affect their bone marrow or blood. Doctors give new, healthy stem cells to the patient via their bloodstream, where they begin to grow and create healthy red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

About 2,300 people in the UK need a stem cell transplant from a stranger every year. However, there is a need for more young men and people from minority ethnic backgrounds to sign up as donors. Blood cancer is the fifth most common type of cancer in the UK and the third biggest cancer killer. It accounts for 9% of all new cases of cancer diagnosed in the UK.