Success for local researchers was marked at an awards ceremony held at the North Staffordshire Medical Institute on October 15.

The following received funds from the chairman of the Medical Institute, Duncan Gough, after the Institute's Research Awards Committee had judged a total of five entries on scientific merit and usefulness to the people of North Staffordshire.

Dr Alan Richardson was awarded £9,856 for his work on the identification of genes conferring drug resistance in ovarian cancer.

Dr Nick Forsyth collected £4,915 for his work on turning stem cells into Tendon.

Medical undergraduates Matthew Roughley and Stephen Lord were presented with cash Prizes of £100 from the Medical Institute's Bicentenary Fund by Mr Gough for the best dissertations in Years 2 and 4 at Keele University Medical School.

The standards in both groups were of a high order and show that our local medical community is top class, and determined to tackle the challenges facing North Staffordshire patients.

All were congratulated by the chairman and members of council. Light refreshments were served.