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The latest news, analysis and opinion from Cancer Research UK

20th anniversary

This year marks 20 years since Cancer Research UK was formed. However, our history goes back much further, to 1902, with the founding of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund.

From proving the link between smoking and cancer to laying the foundations for modern radiotherapy – our scientists have been at the forefront of cancer research for 120 years. To see more of our research highlights, visit our achievements timeline and our milestones series.

Showing 12 out of 25 results

In this episode I tease out four themes that emerged over this first series that give some interesting insights into how we work as scientists, research leaders and research translators. It features some of the fantastic researchers that we have interviewed over the past year – including Professor Steve Jackson, Professor Ruth Plummer, Dr Simon Boulton, Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Professor Karen Vousden, Professor Richard Gilbertson and Professor Charles Swanton. In this episode I tease out four themes that emerged over this first series that give some interesting insights into how we work as scientists, research leaders and research translators. It features some of the fantastic researchers that we have interviewed over the past year – including Professor Steve Jackson, Professor Ruth Plummer, Dr Simon Boulton, Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Professor Karen Vousden, Professor Richard Gilbertson and Professor Charles Swanton.

by Phil Prime | Podcast | 14 February 2023

14 February 2023

This entry is part 9 of 9 in the series Cancer Research Matters - series 1
Glioblastoma cells seen through a microscope.

We've helped double brain tumour survival over the past 40 years. Now, researchers are combining some of our most successful drugs, temozolomide and PARP inhibitors, to make glioblastoma treatment more effective. We've helped double brain tumour survival over the past 40 years. Now, researchers are combining some of our most successful drugs, temozolomide and PARP inhibitors, to make glioblastoma treatment more effective.

by Tim Gunn | Analysis | 13 February 2023

13 February 2023

A crowd of people
  • Health & Medicine
  • Policy & Insight

World Cancer Day 2023: where does the UK stand?

Ahead of World Cancer Day 2023, a new report from Cancer Research UK shows that the impact of cancer for people in the UK is only set to grow. Ahead of World Cancer Day 2023, a new report from Cancer Research UK shows that the impact of cancer for people in the UK is only set to grow.

by Imogen Powell Brown | Analysis | 3 February 2023

3 February 2023

Headshots of Dame Valerie Beral, Anne Szarewski, Nandita deSouza and Yvonne Barr

As our 20th anniversary year draws to a close, we’re celebrating some of the pioneering women who have contributed to impactful cancer research and paved the way for even more. As our 20th anniversary year draws to a close, we’re celebrating some of the pioneering women who have contributed to impactful cancer research and paved the way for even more.

by Amy Warnock | In depth | 25 January 2023

25 January 2023

Headshots of Ruth Plummer, Eve Wiltshaw and Judith Bliss

As our 20th anniversary year draws to a close, we're celebrating some of the pioneering women who have contributed to impactful cancer research and paved the way for even more. As our 20th anniversary year draws to a close, we're celebrating some of the pioneering women who have contributed to impactful cancer research and paved the way for even more.

by Amy Warnock | In depth | 18 January 2023

18 January 2023

Research scientists looking at a slide

Overall, cancer death rates have decreased by 16% in the UK since we were founded. For our 20th anniversary, we're looking back at the influence and involvement we've had in reducing cancer death rates. Overall, cancer death rates have decreased by 16% in the UK since we were founded. For our 20th anniversary, we're looking back at the influence and involvement we've had in reducing cancer death rates.

by Sophie Wedekind | Analysis | 17 December 2022

17 December 2022

Jac Samuel, Senior Research Nurse wearing her research nurse uniform

As part of our 20th anniversary we're celebrating our research nurses, who play a vital role in making sure patients are safe and cared for in clinical trials. As part of our 20th anniversary we're celebrating our research nurses, who play a vital role in making sure patients are safe and cared for in clinical trials.

by Ruth Boyd | Analysis | 7 December 2022

7 December 2022

A bottle containing the HPV vaccine

From strengthening the understanding of the link between HPV and cervical cancer, to working towards reducing cervical cancer to the point where almost no one develops it, our history with this particular disease goes way back. From strengthening the understanding of the link between HPV and cervical cancer, to working towards reducing cervical cancer to the point where almost no one develops it, our history with this particular disease goes way back.

by Lilly Matson | In depth | 21 November 2022

21 November 2022

From the language we use to talk about cancer, to the cancer types that receive the most funding, there’s a lot that we don’t realise has been hugely influenced by the past From the language we use to talk about cancer, to the cancer types that receive the most funding, there’s a lot that we don’t realise has been hugely influenced by the past

by Lilly Matson | In depth | 13 October 2022

13 October 2022

This episode features Professor Richard Gilbertson. Richard is a paediatric oncology clinician scientist and is the Director of the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre. He talks about the challenges and successes of the childhood cancer research community, how he sees the future of the field and some of the incredible breakthroughs his lab has made on childhood brain cancers. This episode features Professor Richard Gilbertson. Richard is a paediatric oncology clinician scientist and is the Director of the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre. He talks about the challenges and successes of the childhood cancer research community, how he sees the future of the field and some of the incredible breakthroughs his lab has made on childhood brain cancers.

by Phil Prime | Podcast | 6 September 2022

6 September 2022

This entry is part 6 of 9 in the series Cancer Research Matters - series 1

This episode features outgoing CRUK Chief Scientist, Professor Karen Vousden. Known for her work on the tumour suppressor protein, p53, she has also worked on HPV and cancer metabolism. She talks about the success and challenges of work around p53, her joy at being involved in the early work around HPV, the frustrations of coming so close to a huge breakthrough and how life as a researcher has changed. This episode features outgoing CRUK Chief Scientist, Professor Karen Vousden. Known for her work on the tumour suppressor protein, p53, she has also worked on HPV and cancer metabolism. She talks about the success and challenges of work around p53, her joy at being involved in the early work around HPV, the frustrations of coming so close to a huge breakthrough and how life as a researcher has changed.

by Phil Prime | Podcast | 25 August 2022

25 August 2022

This entry is part 5 of 9 in the series Cancer Research Matters - series 1