A SCIENTIST from the North East is hitting the academic heights after research suggesting strawberries and other soft fruit could help the fight against cancer.

Emma Brown, from Spennymoor, County Durham, has been awarded a PhD from Ulster University for analysis into the biomedical potential of four kinds of fruit – strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants and the Scandinavian lingonberry.

Using a technique she pioneered herself, the 29-year-old who won a UK Young Scientist of the Year award in 2006, exposed human tumour cells at various stages of cancer development to the digested juice and pulp of the four berry types.

The digested material meant the cells were reacting to the kind of material that colonic cancer cells in the human gut would encounter.

The former Tudhoe Grange School pupil has now been awarded a special PhD in biomedical sciences in recognition of her achievements.

“I believe this is a very significant step forward in cancer research,” said Emma, who is married to Keith, 33.

“I’m very pleased with the results and the fact that over three years of working nights and weekends has been so worthwhile.

“We’re at a very early stage in the research but I hope to continue with it and who knows how far it could go.