Dundee is now the first official Cancer Research UK center in Scotland joining Cambridge as a hub of cancer research in the UK . The announcement today coincides with world cancer day and shows the commitment in the UK to punching above our weight in research. The idea is to pull together world class research and clinical expertise to provide the best possible results for cancer patients nationwide.
As the first center in Scotland, the Dundee Cancer Research UK center will help set the pace for national and international progress in bowel, breast and skin cancer. It will build on Dundee’s world class research in the areas of radiotherapy and surgery by focusing on new highly advanced image-guided surgical techniques. The center also leads the way in making new discoveries in basic cell biology then helping to translate those into new treatments.
Collaboration is the key to the success of the center which will enable researchers who do not normally work together to exchange ideas and information more easily. It now brings together researchers and support from University of Dundee, Cancer Research UK and the NHS Tayside.
Professor Irene Leigh, Head of the College of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing and chair of the board of the new center, said: “This is a very exciting development for cancer research in Scotland. The new center will help us bring together a variety of researchers and clinicians to collaborate and work together to improve the lives of cancer patients across Scotland. By building closer links between scientists and doctors we want to increase the pace of research, leading to improved treatments for patients.”
The center aims to be a world leader in developing treatments tailored to individual cancer patients based on understanding the biology of the disease and how that varies among patients.
Cancer Research UK already supports research in Dundee but is set to increase its contribution to over £7.5m a year to help develop the center.
Professor Peter Downes, Principal of the University of Dundee, said: “The award of Cancer Centre status is the combination of years of effort building world class basic research into the underlying mechanisms of cancer alongside the clinical research needed to translate new knowledge into improved treatment of disease. It exemplifies our strategy to ensure research has a positive impact on society.”
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