Meet the experts
Orchid has a wide range of spokespeople who will be pleased to provide you with quotes, information, statements and carry out interviews.
Dr Dan Berney
Dr Daniel Berney is a Consultant and Reader in genito-urinary pathology. He has published over 50 papers on testis, prostate and penile cancer and has developed large tissue resources in these areas for use by the scientific community. His major areas of interest are the discovery of tests which will predict tumour behaviour and therefore to find designer therapies based on each patients cancer, particularly in the field of prostate cancer, where new tests are urgently needed.
Dr Thomas Powles
Dr Thomas Powles is a Senior Lecturer in Urology Cancer and Honorary Consultant in Medical Oncology at Barts and the London Medical School. His academic interests in testis cancer include the management of early disease, the role of immune suppression in the disease and the long-term side effects of chemotherapy. In prostate cancer his focus is on the identification of patients who are likely to benefit from specific treatment and the mechanism of hormone resistance. His laboratory based work investigates novel treatments for testis cancer such as the tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Dr Yong-Jie Lu
Dr Yong-Jie Lu MBBS MD PhD, is a Senior Lecturer and Team Leader in the Institute of Cancer, Centre for Molecular Oncology and imaging at Barts and The London Medical School, Queen Mary University of London. Dr Lu completed his clinical and PhD training in China, before coming to the United Kingdom in 1995. At the Institute of Cancer Research at Sutton, Surrey he developed and established several molecular cytogenetic techniques for cancer research. At Barts, he has set up a research programme of systematic genetic studies covering male-specific cancers.
Colin Osborne
Colin Osborne is the founder trustee of Orchid. Having endured two years of treatment for testicular cancer he started Orchid with Professor Oliver, the consultant who saved his life. Colin has featured in most of the national newspapers and magazines, local press and radio and on several television shows - notably "Esther", "Open House" with Gloria Hunniford and "Good Morning" with Richard and Judy. He won the prestigious Daily Mirror Pride of Britain award in 2004, which was featured on ITV and GMTV.
Colin also serves on the Executive Committee of the Men's Health Forum and the NCRI Testis Trials Board.
Rebecca Porta, Chief Executive Orchid
Rebecca Porta is Chief Executive of Orchid. She has over 17 years experience in the voluntary sector working in the field of health and medical research with The British Lung Foundation, Cancerbackup, The Migraine Trust and The Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Press Office
To organise an interview with one of our spokespeople, research experts or a person affected by cancer please contact Helen Liddell-Grainger or Lucy Jones at Spink PR on 01444-484888 or the Orchid Press Office on 0207 601 8397.
