Cancer Research UK’s clinical trials units (CTUs) bring together world leading researchers and clinicians to find life-saving new treatments and tests for cancer patients.
Clinical trials are the only way to find out if a new treatment is safe to use and if it’s better than existing treatments. Each year, around 25,000 people take part in a clinical trial that’s supported by Cancer Research UK.
The huge sum will be divided in 5 years across 8 CTUs in Cardiff, Birmingham, Glasgow, Southampton, Leeds and London (at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UCL, and Queen Mary University of London).
Professor Charles Swanton, Cancer Research UK’s Chief Clinician, said: “Our clinical research enables us to translate discoveries from the lab, to improve cancer diagnostics and treatments, giving more patients the best chance of beating their disease.”
“This is particularly important for patients with hard to treat cancers, including pancreatic, oesophageal, lung and brain tumours, where options for treatment are limited and survival rates remain poor.”
Cancer Research UK’s CTUs specialise in the design, delivery and analysis of trials that bring the latest scientific developments to patients across the UK. They are a vital part of the charity’s research network, helping shape the clinical research landscape in the UK and internationally.
Each of the charity’s CTUs has a different specialist focus including children’s cancer trials, cancer screening and population research.
In Birmingham, there will be dedicated funding for finding new treatments for children with cancer.
Professor Pamela Kearns, Director of Birmingham's Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit and Cancer Research UK’s children’s cancer expert, said: “Clinical trials are vital to test new treatments and improve the care of children with cancer.”
“For example, within my team, with support from Cancer Research UK, we run the International BEACON trial, testing new combinations of therapies for children and young people with a type of childhood cancer called neuroblastoma, at a stage where they have failed to respond to standard treatments.”
“One question this trial is trying to answer is if a drug called bevacizumab can help treat their neuroblastoma. Bevacizumab is a type of biological therapy called a monoclonal antibody that targets the tumour’s blood supply.”
“Doctors already treat adult cancers with this drug and we want to see if it works for children with neuroblastoma. Trials are also helping us to find kinder treatments with fewer side effects.”
