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SU biochemist honoured for prostate cancer research
Author: Media & Communication, Faculty of Science
Published: 01/08/2016

A biochemist from Stellenbosch University (SU), Dr Karl Storbeck has been awarded the South African Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology's Silver award during its conference which took place from 10 to 13 July 2016.

The award is made biennially to a researcher 35 years or younger that has displayed a record of national and international research excellence. It was handed over at a formal ceremony on 13 July 2016.

Dr Storbeck's research group in the Department of Biochemistry focuses on investigating the role of adrenal steroid hormones in the development and progression of castration resistant prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is an androgen driven disease and is the second most common cancer in men.

Dr Storbeck explains: "The primary androgen, or male sex hormone, is testosterone which is produced by the testes. Treatment for advanced prostate cancer therefore includes physical or chemical castration which prevents the production of testosterone. While this treatment initially demonstrates excellent results in many cases the cancer returns after one to three years and is then termed castration resistant prostate cancer, which is uniformly fatal."   

He has recently received a grant as part of the National Research Foundation's competitive programme for rated researchers to investigate the role of the steroid hormone 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione in castration resistant prostate cancer. Previously he has also received research grants from the Cancer Association of South Africa and the Medical Research Council of South Africa.

He says he is excited by the current state of steroid research: "Recent advances in technology have made it possible to investigate pathways and mechanisms which have previously been overlooked. I hope that this research will contribute to the successful diagnosis and treatment of castration resistant prostate cancer and other androgen dependent diseases."

Dr Storbeck, who completed his BSc, BSc honours, MSc and PhD at SU, has authored or co-authored nearly 30 research publications and presented papers at over 20 international and national conferences. He has already received several awards, such as the HB and MJ Thom sabbatical grant (2015), the SU Rector's award for general performance (2014) and the Excellence Award for Young Researchers at the 15th Conference of the Adrenal Cortex which was held in the United States of America in 2012.

As a student, he was awarded the Roche prize for the best biochemistry honours student in South Africa in 2004, and in 2003 he received the Merck award for the best third year student in the molecular biology and biotechnology programme at SU.