A SOUTHAMPTON University professor has been awarded a £78,000 research grant to study the genetic causes of breast cancer.

Professor Andrew Collins, of the university's school of medicine, will analyse information from different studies to look for evidence that certain genes cause cancer, while others do not.

Breast Cancer Campaign is funding the three-year research programme.

Charity director of research and policy Arlene Wilkie said: "There are many different genes which are important in the development of breast cancer, identifying them and finding out more about their role is an important aspect of breast cancer research."

During the Southampton University study the genetic structure of a large number of people with breast cancer will be compared with an equally large number of people without the disease.

As well as the university's research programme, Breast Cancer Campaign has awarded more than £5m to other research projects during the past year.