UK News

The funding is part of a partnership between Cancer Research UK, the NIHR, the Little Princess Trust and 17 adult ECMCs, including those in Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Oxford, Southampton and five in London.

There is also a further £2.2m set aside for research at 12 paediatric ECMCs across the UK, with a total of £6.6m for this research over the next five years. This funding is expected to employ new research staff, such as nurses and data managers, according to Cancer Research UK.

Dr Iain Foulkes, executive director of research and innovation at Cancer Research UK, commented: “We are proud to be supporting an expansion of our successful ECMC network, bringing together vast medical and scientific expertise to translate the latest scientific discoveries from the lab into the clinic. […] The ECMC network is delivering the cancer treatments of the future, bringing new hope to people affected by cancer. […] The trials taking place today will give the next generation the best possible chance of beating cancer.”

Health Minister Helen Whately, added: “A cancer diagnosis can be devastating but the earlier the diagnosis, the better the chance to treat it and beat it. We are already picking up more cancers early by screening but we can do even better. […] This partnership between Cancer Research UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Research and the Little Princess Trust will fund innovative trials that could lead to new life-saving treatments. […] Every life lost to cancer is devastating and I’m pleased that across the country, people will be given renewed hope – especially children and young people – that we can beat this awful disease.”