Cancer breakthroughs aren’t unlocked by science alone. Turning a promising discovery into a treatment that changes lives requires the right combination of scientific, political and operational factors to align – like the numbers on a combination lock. 

The UK has long been a global leader in medical research, but our research system is not working as well as it should. Delays to research mean we could be missing breakthroughs that could save lives. 

We are now at a pivotal moment. Improving the health and wealth of the nation will be a key focus for the new administration in Westminster.  

This will require investment in areas that can deliver both better outcomes for patients and stronger economic returns. Cancer research sits squarely at the heart of these opportunities. 

That’s why today, at our biannual Parliament Day, Cancer Research UK are launching our Unlock Cancer Breakthroughs campaign. Our campaign calls on MPs from across the political spectrum to help remove the barriers holding back life-saving progress and to act now to accelerate breakthroughs for people affected by cancer. We’re joined by over 100 of our volunteer Campaigns Ambassadors to mark this launch in Parliament.  

A golden age of science at risk  

We’re living in a golden age of science. Advances in genomics, data, AI and personalised medicine mean that discoveries once thought decades away are now within reach. Breakthroughs in prevention, detection and treatment have already saved more than a million lives since the mid-1980s. But continued progress is not guaranteed. 

Cancer is still the leading cause of death in the UK, and diagnoses are projected to rise significantly in the coming decades.  At the same time, systemic barriers are slowing the pace at which research can be translated into new innovations and treatments.  

Put simply, the UK risks missing a critical window to lead the next generation of scientific breakthroughs that cancer patients are waiting for. 

The impact of research is real

His story is a reminder that clinical trials don’t just save lives, they can improve the quality of people’s lives too. And it underlines what is at stake when research is delayed. 

Unlocking breakthroughs: three urgent priorities 

At Cancer Research UK we’ve identified three key barriers that are holding back progress. Now, we’re calling on MPs to take urgent action:

1. Unlock faster clinical trials

Clinical trials are the engine of progress in cancer care. They test that new treatments are effective, safe for use and can work better than current treatments. They also help us test new ways to prevent and diagnose cancer.  But currently, they’re taking too long to set up.

Complex processes and limited staff, time and resources in the health system to carry out research mean that promising studies can be delayed, slowing the delivery of new treatments to patients. 

The UK Government has made meaningful progress to reduce the average set up time for commercial trials, but it’s important that non-commercial trials aren’t left behind. In 2023/24, over 95% of patients recruited to UK interventional clinical studies (those trials which aim to find out more about a particular intervention or treatment) were recruited to non-commercial trials.  

Streamlining set-up processes and improving workforce capacity to deliver research in the health systems across the UK will mean life-saving tests and treatments can reach patients faster.  

2. Unlock global talent

The UK is home to world-class researchers, and at Cancer Research UK, we’re developing the UK’s cancer research leaders of tomorrow. For example, we support around 500 PhD students across our research portfolio to help drive the next generation of cancer breakthroughs. But a complex and costly immigration system is deterring global talent. The total costs of visas at our institutes in 2024-25 was £870,000 – money taken away from funding the development of life-saving tests and treatments for people affected by cancer. 

Breakthroughs happen when the best minds come together. But action is needed to reduce visa costs and simplify immigration processes for researchers so that we can attract and retain the talent needed to drive the next generation of discoveries. 

3. Unlock investment

Decades of cancer research has led to survival doubling since the 1970s in the UK, but this rate of improvement has slowed over time. Breakthroughs rely on sustained effort and investment.  

Investing in cancer research also unlocks economic growth, with every £1 invested generating around £2.80 in economic benefits for the UK. Yet uncertainty around funding risks slowing momentum just as new opportunities are emerging.  

Whilst it is welcome to see the government’s commitment to increasing public investment in research over this Parliament, this investment needs to be protected and sustained over the long-term across all four nations of the UK. Without this, the UK risks falling behind at the very moment when scientific opportunity is greatest. Sustaining investment in research will ensure people affected by cancer today and in the future can benefit from new breakthroughs, and it will also help to drive economic growth. 

A shared mission 

Cancer Research UK is already a vital part of the UK’s research ecosystem. We aim to invest more than £1 billion into research over the next three years, we support thousands of researchers and have contributed to the development of many of the world’s most important cancer drugs.  

But we cannot do this alone. The message of this campaign is simple: Governments across the UK hold the key to unlocking cancer breakthroughs. 

With the right action now, we can ensure that discoveries are not delayed and that more people affected by cancer benefit from the progress that science can deliver. 

To see this progress, we need to see strong leadership, alongside support from our campaigners, researcher community and partnerships to drive this change. 

Join the campaign now!