Plans for a state-of-the-art cancer research centre that will reinforce Cambridge's position as a world leader in cancer research were approved at a meeting of the City Council last week.
Plans for a state-of-the-art cancer research centre that will reinforce Cambridge's position as a world leader in cancer research were approved at a meeting of the City Council last week.
The new centre will be a collaboration between the University of Cambridge, the Imperial Cancer Research Fund and Addenbrooke's NHS Trust.
Cancer affects roughly one in three patients in the UK and kills 3,000 people every week. Research is the most powerful tool we have in our armoury to fight the disease. The advances in fundamental biological science, many of which stem from pioneering scientific work in Cambridge, now promise to revolutionise our understanding of the cancer process.
The University has established a partnership with the Imperial Cancer Research Fund to bring about the next stage in the development of its cancer programme. The partnership of Addenbrooke's Hospital, Imperial Cancer Research Fund and the University will make Cambridge one of the world's leading cancer research centres.
The proposed development will incorporate a first phase of 14,000m2 and a future phase of 16,000m2. Situated in the north-west of the Addenbrooke's NHS Trust Campus; the development also includes a car park and identifies a 'land bank' for future development of up to 280 staff residences to be provided by Trust.
The University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Alec Broers, welcomed the news that once again the city's reputation has been recognised as a world leader in the field of medical science.
"The partnership between the University of Cambridge and Imperial Cancer will lead to an outstanding new cancer research initiative that will take advantage of Cambridge's huge investment in genetics, its world-renowned hospital and the scientific excellence of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund," he said. "This new centre will make a unique contribution to cancer research and, in doing so, hopes to alleviate a major cause of human suffering in the future."
Regius Professor of Physic, Sir Keith Peters confirmed that this is very important news for Cambridge medicine.
"The establishment of this new cancer centre should place Cambridge in the first rank internationally and it will have immediate consequences for better diagnosis and treatment of patients," he said.
Sir Paul Nurse, Director General of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund highlighted the need to make real difference to the lives of those affected by cancer.
"This is a great opportunity to combine the scientific excellence of Imperial Cancer and the University to accelerate our progress against cancer," he said. "With the support of patients at Addenbrooke's, we will be able to ensure that our scientific research can be used to help people as quickly as possible."
The new Imperial Cancer Research Fund/Hutchison Cancer Research Centre is being procured by the University's Estate Management and Building Service who have engaged Anshen Dyer as architects for the project. It is being project managed by Davis Langdon & Everest and Laings have just been confirmed as the Stage 1 contractor.
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