The University of Aberdeen will take centre stage at the upcoming Business Beats Cancer Aberdeen gala on Friday, 23 May, with two of its academics playing key roles in the region’s first Cancer Research UK business fundraising event.
Dr Monika Gostic, Teaching Fellow in Medical Sciences and Co-Chair of the Business Beats Cancer Aberdeen board, is spearheading the initiative as part of her commitment to bridging science, industry, and community. A former Cancer Research UK-funded scientist, Dr Gostic describes her involvement as a personal mission to give back.
“I was once funded by Cancer Research UK, and that support shaped my scientific career,” she says. “Now, I see this as an opportunity to give back, not just through fundraising, but by connecting academic expertise with local businesses, and by championing disease prevention across sectors.”
Dr Gostic is also known for her work in employability and entrepreneurship, embedding real-world, industry-facing opportunities into the student experience. She plays a key role in ensuring that the University of Aberdeen curriculum prepares students for meaningful careers by actively involving employers, health professionals, and innovators in programme delivery and assessment.
Joining her on stage at the gala will be Dr Sharon Hanley, Senior Lecturer in Cancer Epidemiology, who will deliver a keynote on her groundbreaking research in HPV vaccination and cervical screening. Dr Hanley recently secured a £1.3 million Cancer Research UK grant to explore barriers to cervical screening across remote and deprived communities in Scotland, work that is shaping national health policy and advancing equity in cancer care.
Together, their presence at the event reflects the University of Aberdeen’s dedication to research excellence, community health, and student success. The University is actively raising student satisfaction and graduate prospects by fostering collaborations between academic staff and the business community: locally, nationally, and internationally.
The Business Beats Cancer Aberdeen gala, hosted at The Chester Hotel, aims to raise over £40,000 to fund life-saving cancer research across Scotland. The event will bring together businesses, researchers, and community leaders in a collective effort to beat cancer through science, strategy, and solidarity.
