Cancer Research UK achieves record research spend

Cancer Research UK has achieved record research spend, according to its annual report and accounts published today (Wednesday 17 September 2008).

The Charity spent a record £333m on ground-breaking research in the financial year 2007/08, a 6% increase on last year. An additional £11m was spent on cancer information and advocacy. Cancer Research UK continues to be the largest, independent funder of cancer research in the world.

Chief Executive, Harpal Kumar, said: “Over the past year our ground-breaking research has continued to lead the way in the causes, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of every type of cancer.

“Tens of thousands of lives have been saved in the UK and the improved survival rates we are now seeing for many types of cancer are proof that cancer research delivers results.”

Cancer Research UK is dedicated to research into the causes, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of every type of cancer. It funds over 4,500 research scientists, doctors and nurses throughout the UK.

Some of last year’s achievements included:

• Critically important work beginning in the charity’s new Cancer Research UK-MRC Gray Institute for Radiation Oncology & Biology in partnership with the University of Oxford and the Medical Research Council. The Institute will help improve and refine radiotherapy treatments for cancer patients
• The conclusion of a major international study by Cancer Research UK scientists at its Cambridge Research Institute, which brought together 15 research teams from around the world. This milestone collaboration, led by Professor Sir Bruce Ponder, isolated five regions of the genome containing genes that can increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. It is one of a series of genome-wide studies which Cancer Research UK is funding into the UK’s most common cancers
• Securing full support from the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, for proposals to develop a world-leading research institute, the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation, in partnership with the Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust and University College London. The Centre will bring together some of the best scientists in the world to make new breakthroughs in understanding how cancer starts and develops
• Working closely with the NHS and Macmillan Cancer Support to launch ‘information prescriptions’ which will equip cancer patients with the information they need during their diagnosis and treatment
• Helping around a million people access the information they need through the charity’s award-winning CancerHelp UK information website, and funding mobile cancer awareness units to take information and advice on cancer prevention and early detection to some of the UK’s most deprived communities
• Launching the Screening Matters campaign. To date over 110,000 people have signed the charity’s petition and almost 20,000 have emailed politicians. Since the campaign launch the Government has announced a series of measures to expand existing screening programmes for breast and bowel cancer in England

• Harpal Kumar added: “There is still much to be done, and over the past year we have initiated a number of new partnerships that will help us deliver our ambitious plans for the future. We are mindful that the coming year is likely to be very challenging as the economy slows, but remain confident that Cancer Research UK will continue to have unparalleled impact and influence worldwide through its cutting edge advances and pioneering research.”

  ENDS

  For more information, please contact the Cancer Research UK press office on 020 7061 8300 or, out of hours, the duty press officer on 07050 264059.

  About Cancer Research UK

  • Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK’s vision is to beat cancer.
  • Cancer Research UK carries out world-class research to improve understanding of the disease and find out how to prevent, diagnose and treat different kinds of cancer.
  • Cancer Research UK ensures that its findings are used to improve the lives of all cancer patients.
  • Cancer Research UK helps people to understand cancer, the progress that is being made and the choices each person can make.
  • Cancer Research UK works in partnership with others to achieve the greatest impact in the global fight against cancer.
  • For further information about Cancer Research UK’s work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 020 7121 6699 or visit our homepage.