My Story
Hi everyone, I am running the Helsinki Marathon 2025 to support Cancer Research UK. Please consider donating to Cancer Research UK through this Giving Page. More details about my motivation are given below. Why am I supporting Cancer Research UK? One in six deaths worldwide is caused by cancer. Progress in the fight against cancer has been both slow and remarkable. Although the absolute number of deaths has increased, largely due to an ageing population, mortality rates from cancer have fallen significantly since the 1990s. The discovery and development of anti-cancer treatments depend on our understanding of human biology and the basic molecular mechanisms that govern it. I am a scientist (a structural biologist) aiming to uncover the molecular mechanisms of human biology and provide insights into how these mechanisms could be manipulated to develop new and better treatments for cancer patients. Cancer Research UK funded my doctoral studies at the University of Oxford more than ten years ago and continues to support my research today. Over the years, my colleagues and I have shed light on numerous molecular mechanisms of cell-to-cell communication by determining the 3D structures of proteins at atomic resolution. These mechanisms often break down in cancer and other diseases. By understanding them better, we may discover new ways to repair or work around them to prevent, treat, or cure cancer. Most of our work has been published in peer‑reviewed journals and is accessible via PubMed or Google Scholar. I felt that running a marathon in support of Cancer Research UK would be a meaningful way to thank the charity and all those who support it, while also engaging anyone interested in what we as scientists (structural biologists) contribute to the fight against cancer. Why Helsinki? It is not because I am seeking the ideal marathon temperature of 2–13 °C! I had the privilege of spending a semester at the University of Helsinki through the EU Erasmus Programme, where I gained first‑hand experience of world‑class biological research. This experience encouraged me to pursue a career in science and to apply for a Cancer Research UK doctoral studentship at Oxford after my undergraduate degree. Today, Finland is at the frontier of the democratic world, helping to protect our way of life in Europe and beyond. I look forward to showing support for our Nordic friends during my visit. I am incredibly grateful to my family, friends and colleagues for their generous support. All donations will go directly to Cancer Research UK. Thank you! Tomas
