Businessman donates £10m to name Charlotte Lockhart Precision Breast Cancer Institute after his partner
Businessman and philanthropist Andrew Barnes ONZM is donating £10 million to the University of Cambridge to establish the Charlotte Lockhart Precision Breast Cancer Institute, named after his beloved partner, who has terminal breast cancer.
Charlotte Lockhart MNZM was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004. Although her cancer was treated successfully at the time, in 2021 Charlotte was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, advanced cancer that has spread from the breast to other parts of the body. She is responding well to treatment but knows her cancer cannot be cured.
“When we got the news about Charlotte’s diagnosis, it felt like the ground fell away beneath us. You think about the family, the grandchildren, all the things you still want to share together,” said Andrew, who co-founded 4 Day Week Global with Charlotte to challenge the assumption that productivity is measured by hours worked. Andrew is providing the donation via the Barnes Lockhart September Giving Trust.
A graduate of Selwyn College, University of Cambridge, Andrew was introduced to Jean Abraham, Professor of Precision Breast Cancer Medicine at the University and an Honorary Consultant in Medical Oncology at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
Professor Abraham leads Cambridge’s Precision Breast Cancer Institute, which uses advanced technologies and artificial intelligence to create highly individualised approaches to breast cancer treatment. This involves analysing a patient’s genomic, molecular, and clinical data collectively, aiming to identify the treatment and clinical management plan most effective for each patient.
Andrew Barnes, Jean Abraham and Charlotte Lockhart
Andrew Barnes, Jean Abraham and Charlotte Lockhart
“As someone who studied at Cambridge, I know what a very special place it is,” Andrew said. “Cambridge’s cancer research is second-to-none, with global impact, and the incredible and dedicated researchers I’ve had the privilege of meeting fill me with real optimism for the future.
“As a dual citizen of the UK and New Zealand, I know that the research this donation enables will have profound benefits for people with breast cancer in New Zealand and globally. Cancer does not respect borders, and it’s up to us to work collectively to help accelerate a solution that will help us all.”
Charlotte is living in what she calls her “good health window" and has advocated for better access to medications since her 2021 metastatic diagnosis. She said: “It’s the sort of diagnosis that stops time, and for me, that set about a full reset on how I spend my time and energy. I am focused on advocating to extend to others the advantages, information, and advice that have helped me. I am grateful for the gift of time that medication has given me, and I know that the institute will deliver extraordinary outcomes for people diagnosed with breast cancer in the future.”
Andrew, Charlotte and Jack Lockhart (left to right). Credit: Lucy Rose Photography
Andrew, Charlotte and Jack Lockhart (left to right). Credit: Lucy Rose Photography
The Charlotte Lockhart Precision Breast Cancer Institute at the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital
The Charlotte Lockhart Precision Breast Cancer Institute at the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital
The Charlotte Lockhart Precision Breast Cancer Institute will form part of the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital. Construction of the new Hospital is due to complete in 2030. Andrew’s generous philanthropic support will enable new collaborations between world-leading academic researchers, clinicians, and industry and biotechnology companies, transforming the way we treat breast cancer patients.
In 2025, Charlotte met Professor Abraham and some of the key researchers and clinicians behind Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital as part of a short film to support the University’s fundraising goals for the new hospital.
The Charlotte Lockhart Precision Breast Cancer Institute will form part of the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital. Construction of the new Hospital is due to complete in 2030. Andrew’s generous philanthropic support will enable new collaborations between world-leading academic researchers, clinicians, and industry and biotechnology companies, transforming the way we treat breast cancer patients.
In 2025, Charlotte met Professor Abraham and some of the key researchers and clinicians behind Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital as part of a short film to support the University’s fundraising goals for the new hospital.
“I’m responding well to treatment, so I still have hope, and this hope exists because of research. Without research, I wouldn’t still be here today. It’s thanks to brilliant researchers like Jean that there’s been such a transformation in how we detect, treat, prevent – and hopefully one day – cure cancer. That’s why Andrew and I are proud to support the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital,” added Charlotte.
Professor Abraham said, “I’ve met and treated thousands of women in Charlotte’s position throughout my career. As a scientist and clinician, I always want to do more, to be able to say to people diagnosed with breast cancer, ‘we’re able to help you, you don’t need to be afraid of your diagnosis’.
“I’m delighted and grateful to Andrew and Charlotte for helping fund our institute. Thanks to their generosity, we have the opportunity to make a real difference to all breast cancer sufferers, their children and future generations.”
Transforming breast cancer treatments
Transforming breast cancer treatments
The University of Cambridge has made significant contributions to how we treat breast cancer. Among its achievements are:
- Professor Sir Steve Jackson (Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute) led research that uncovered a key mechanism by which DNA damage is repaired. Through his spinout company KuDOS, this led to the development of a new class of cancer drugs known as PARP inhibitors. The drug olaparib, the first of these drugs, has already been used to treat 140,000 patients.
- Professor Jean Abraham (Precision Breast Cancer Institute) led a trial where cancers were treated with chemotherapy followed by olaparib before surgery. Of the 39 patients who received this treatment, 100% of patients survived the critical three-year period post-surgery. This could become the recommended treatment for patients with early-stage breast cancer from inherited BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations.
- Cambridge is home to the Personalised Breast Cancer Programme, which offers genetic testing, currently not part of standard routine cancer care, to women with breast cancer to understand how and if we can personalise their cancer treatment. It has been expanded to four other UK hospitals. More than 2,000 patients have been enrolled so far and over a third have had a change in clinical management of their disease.
- Professor Charlotte Coles (Department of Oncology) led a series of trials that identified more personalised approaches to radiotherapy for women depending on whether they were at a high or low risk of recurrence and showed that radiotherapy could be concentrated into a shorter amount of time. All of the trials showed similar or reduced side-effects to standard radiotherapy.
The University of Cambridge has made significant contributions to how we treat breast cancer. Among its achievements are:
- Professor Sir Steve Jackson (Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute) led research that uncovered a key mechanism by which DNA damage is repaired. Through his spinout company KuDOS, this led to the development of a new class of cancer drugs known as PARP inhibitors. The drug olaparib, the first of these drugs, has already been used to treat 140,000 patients.
- Professor Jean Abraham (Precision Breast Cancer Institute) led a trial where cancers were treated with chemotherapy followed by olaparib before surgery. Of the 39 patients who received this treatment, 100% of patients survived the critical three-year period post-surgery. This could become the recommended treatment for patients with early-stage breast cancer from inherited BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations.
- Cambridge is home to the Personalised Breast Cancer Programme, which offers genetic testing, currently not part of standard routine cancer care, to women with breast cancer to understand how and if we can personalise their cancer treatment. It has been expanded to four other UK hospitals. More than 2,000 patients have been enrolled so far and over a third have had a change in clinical management of their disease.
- Professor Charlotte Coles (Department of Oncology) led a series of trials that identified more personalised approaches to radiotherapy for women depending on whether they were at a high or low risk of recurrence and showed that radiotherapy could be concentrated into a shorter amount of time. All of the trials showed similar or reduced side-effects to standard radiotherapy.
A hospital with global impact
A hospital with global impact
As New Zealand residents, Andrew and Charlotte strongly support Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital’s ambition that the breakthroughs made possible there will transform cancer care and bring hope to millions of people across the world.
“With one in two of us expected to be diagnosed with cancer during our lifetime, it’s obvious that this is a global problem,” said Andrew. “Whether it’s finding ways to diagnose cancers faster or developing kinder, more targeted treatments, I’m confident that whatever happens in Cambridge will have an impact on how we treat cancer back home in New Zealand, or indeed anywhere in the world.”
Located on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital will bring together clinical excellence from Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and world-leading researchers at the University of Cambridge in a single setting, accelerating improvements in diagnosis, treatment and survival for people with cancer.
Philanthropy can play a powerful part in helping dramatically improve the lives of people with cancer for generations to come, far beyond Cambridge. The fundraising campaign for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital is a joint venture between the University of Cambridge and Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT). Find out more here.
As New Zealand residents, Andrew and Charlotte strongly support Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital’s ambition that the breakthroughs made possible there will transform cancer care and bring hope to millions of people across the world.
“With one in two of us expected to be diagnosed with cancer during our lifetime, it’s obvious that this is a global problem,” said Andrew. “Whether it’s finding ways to diagnose cancers faster or developing kinder, more targeted treatments, I’m confident that whatever happens in Cambridge will have an impact on how we treat cancer back home in New Zealand, or indeed anywhere in the world.”
Located on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital will bring together clinical excellence from Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and world-leading researchers at the University of Cambridge in a single setting, accelerating improvements in diagnosis, treatment and survival for people with cancer.
Philanthropy can play a powerful part in helping dramatically improve the lives of people with cancer for generations to come, far beyond Cambridge. The fundraising campaign for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital is a joint venture between the University of Cambridge and Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT). Find out more here.
Support cancer research at Cambridge
Cambridge hosts a cancer research community responsible for globally significant breakthroughs and innovations.
Together we are changing the way cancer is treated. Our scientists will make discoveries alongside expert clinicians treating patients, drawing on the world-leading expertise found within the University and across the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
We will find cancer earlier and treat it better. Join us.
Published 19 June 2026
Images
Mother and daughter love - stock photo (NoSystem images/Getty Images)
The text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License