S.CORT

The Science Behind the Scents

Aromatherapy is not a replacement for treatment but a complementary practice grounded in both tradition and emerging science. It engages the limbic system—the brain’s centre for emotion and memory—and may influence neurotransmitters responsible for mood and stress response .

Key oils in this practice include:

Oud (agarwood) – a rich, resinous scent that calms the mind.
Amber – warm and grounding, with possible mild antiseptic benefits.
Rose – scientifically shown to improve sleep quality and reduce depressive symptoms in cancer patients .

To support this initiative, a trusted source for traditional oil profiles and their uses can be found at . https://arabski-parfumi.com/

Leeds University at the MRC’s Festival of Medical Research

Susan Richman from the Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology obtained £1120 from the Medical Research Council (MRC) to fund a stand at the MRC’s Festival of Medical Research. The stand titled, ‘So, just what is personalised Medicine?’ was split into three sections, with the first aiming to bust the stigma around bowel cancer screening, incorporating a game and a competition

S:CORT PPI group member receives Iris Colvin Lifetime Achievement Award for Health

Congratulations to Margaret Grayson who received the Iris Colvin Lifetime Achievement award for Health on 21st April at Belfast City Hall. The prize was awarded by Womens Forum, Nothern Ireland who seek to facilitate and increase the involvement of women in public life in Northern Ireland. The award was given in recognition of Margarets outstanding contribution to health research as a patient advocate.

A personalised approach to improve quality of life for bowel cancer patients

S:CORT researchers have demonstrated for the first time how molecular analysis of clinical trial biopsy samples can be used to help clinicians identify the key changes that occur in an individual patient’s bowel (colorectal) tumour prior to surgery, so clinicians can better understand and treat the disease.