Professor Nicola Curtin (pictured) who lives in Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne, said she doesn’t need the money and lives quite modestly
A scientist who helped create a groundbreaking ovarian cancer drug is giving away £865,000 in royalties she received in a bid to transform the lives of people who find themselves at a disadvantage.
Professor Nicola Curtin, 65, has been working since 1982 to create a medicine that would help kill malignant tumours.
She’s part of a talented team from Newcastle University who produced Rubraca® – a new cancer drug, now approved for use on the NHS.
Nicola who lives in Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne, has used the money to set up The Curtin PARP (Passionate About Realising your Potential) Fund at the Community Foundation.
Nicola said she doesn’t need the money from the royalties and that she wanted to give disadvantaged members of the community new skills to help them realize their potential.
‘Maybe I could buy another house but that’s another house to clean! Nicola said.’
‘I live quite modestly and I can’t see my lifestyle suddenly becoming more extravagant.
‘It’s just like having a lottery win. I could have worked just as hard for as many years and there have been no drug came out of it.
‘I’m paid for working really hard.
‘Like most scientists it’s not the money that drives me, it’s the intellectual challenge and the buzz I get from finding something out before anyone else knows it.
‘I love interacting with the students and turning them into scientists – that’s rewarding itself,’ she added.
She said she also had the backing of her daughter:
Professor Nicola Curtin, 65, pictured far right, has given away the £865,000 royalties which and has used the money to set up The Curtin PARP Fund at the Community Foundation. Also pictured (left) Sandra King, Chief Philanthropy Officer at the Community Foundation and Helen Goddard, (centre) daughter of Nicola Curtin and an advisor to the Fund
‘ … she’s got a job and she’s married to somebody who has got a job. She’s happy and she’s secure financially herself. She thinks the fund is a great idea.’
‘I know that life is very unfair and people are at disadvantages and those people may have talents that could be exploited for a little bit of money.
‘The opportunity and aim of this fund is to give them those opportunities. Not only will it help them but it’s good for the country. It’s not good for the country if we’re wasting talent,’ Nicola continued.
The charitable fund will support a range of activities to help people to develop the skills, talents and confidence to overcome barriers to employment or education.
Priority will be given to carers, black and minority ethnic people, disabled people, homeless people and people who are experiencing disadvantage that prevents them from realising their potential.
Sandra King, Chief Philanthropy Officer at the Community Fund, said: ‘We’re delighted to celebrate the generosity of Professor Nicola Curtin, as the Curtin PARP Fund is officially open for applications at the Community Foundation.
‘Her generosity is incredible – a truly inspiring philanthropist who should be recognised for her generous contribution to society.
‘Not only has Professor Curtin had a hugely successful career that has changed lives and improved health, but she is sharing the proceeds of her success to help people overcome barriers and realise their full potential,’ Ms King said.
Nicola said she was working on creating much weaker drugs before discovering how effective Rubraca® was in treating ovarian cancer.
Once they had proved that the drug worked, Newcastle University sold six years worth of royalties to Sagard Healthcare Royalty Partners for £31m.
The university had an agreement in which inventors such as Nicola would get money back from the sale.
‘Rubraca® has proved to be effective in around 50 to 55% of ovarian cancers.
‘It kills the tumour cells while leaving the normal tissue relatively unaffected.
‘It’s really changed the way we think about treating cancer cells,’ Nicola said.
There’s also a possibility the drug may benefit people with prostate cancer and pancreatic cancer.
