A YORK scientist has won a national award for her undergraduate research into the use of yeast to help cancer research.

Kate Clark carried out the work while completing the final year of her neuroscience degree at University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), and scientists and researchers at the university will continue to benefit from her work.

Her project on the use of yeast as a metabolic model for the study of cancer therapeutics took the annual British Neuroscience Association undergraduate project prize at the organisation’s Christmas symposium.

Miss Clark said: “There is an impressive list of previous winners and I feel really humble to have joined such an exclusive club.

“It’s a privilege to have been given the opportunity to carry out in-depth research while on my undergraduate course at UCLan.

“Making new discoveries is a fantastic feeling and the experience has really helped toshape my future career plans.”

The award is open to all final-year neuroscience undergraduates across the country.

Dr Nikola Bridges of the university’s school of psychology said: “We are all delighted that Kate’s work has been acknowledged in this way. It is recognition of her hard work and expertise in an area of growing academic research.”

Dr Clare Lawrence, of the university’s school of pharmacy and biomedical sciences, who supervised Miss Clark’s project, said: “Kate’s undergraduate project utilised a variety of yeast strains grown under different metabolic conditions.”

The neuroscience degree is taught by the two schools jointly.

Miss Clark, who specialises in studying brain tumours and cancer, is now doing a PhD at the University of Newcastle. She hopes to become a university lecturer herself and set up her own cancer lab.