Promising British scientist Kirsty Smitten has died at the age of 29 from angiosarcoma – a rare form of heart cancer. The woman conducted research on a new class of antibiotics, which, according to her alma mater, the University of Sheffield, constitute a “new front” in the fight against human antibiotic resistance.
Kirsty Smitten’s death was announced on social media by her brother Matt Smitten. “I write with sadness that my beautiful younger sister Kirsty Smitten passed away early in the morning on Wednesday, October 4. She bravely fought aggressive cancer to the end, with her loved ones surrounding her. Words cannot describe how brave I am. I miss her,” he wrote. Several pictures of his sister.
Information relating to the woman’s death was also announced by AFC Norton Woodseats Women’s Sports Club, of which the 29-year-old was a member. “It is with a heavy heart that we announce that Club Captain Kirsty has sadly lost her tough battle (…). She was a wonderful friend and a sweet girl who would do anything for us. This team was everything to Kirsty and Kirsty was everything to us,” they wrote. . “It wouldn’t be the same without her.”
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Smitten was conducting promising research
In April this year, the University of Sheffield, where Smitten earned her PhD, announced that the woman had recently been diagnosed with angiosarcoma – a malignant tumor – with a prognosis of three to six months. It has been described as an “extremely rare and aggressive form of heart cancer”. Meanwhile, the university confirmed that the 29-year-old was conducting “world-leading research into a new class of antibiotics” at the same time. It was pointed out that they constitute a “new front” in the fight against antibiotic resistance, which is responsible for 1.2 million deaths every year and may cause another pandemic. For her work in 2020, Smitten was named one of Forbes’ Top 30 Under 30 People in Science and Health in Europe.
The 29-year-old’s sports club reported that the woman underwent open-heart surgery some time ago to remove angiosarcoma. The team also decided to organize a charity match to raise money for the Sarcoma Organization, which the 29-year-old supports. The competition will be held on October 14.
See also: shape-shifting antibiotic. “It may be the key to the survival of our species.”
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