Planning our Research Strategy

At Cancer Research UK we believe that carefully planning our future research strategy is crucial. It is only by doing this that we can make sure that we quickly identify the best new research opportunities for the future and continue to spend the funds the public gives us wisely.

This is so important to us that our Scientific Executive Board regularly reviews all of the ways that we fund research. As new priorities are identified, recommendations for change are discussed with our Trustees and with scientific advisors on our Funding Committees. Costs and benefits are carefully assessed to make sure that we get the best value from the new initiatives we fund.

You can read more about some of our new initiatives below.

Funding research priorities

We believe that the best ideas for new research come from our scientists. That is why most of our funding for research is spent on applications to our funding committees for individual research projects and we will grow our support for this work.

But we know that sometimes important areas of research need strong new foundations. We are already providing new funding to support the following research activities and more will follow.

• We are boosting radiobiology research by funding a new Institute for Radiation Biology Research in Oxford, with a new building opening in 2007. Many cancer patients receive radiotherapy as part of their treatment. Scientists at the institute will focus on making this important treatment more precise and effective.



• We are training new researchers in pathology and medicinal chemistry, with targeted training schemes launched in 2006. Five UK universities have received substantial grants to start an exciting new training programme to attract the next generation of anti-cancer drug designers.

Funding the best research institutes

We work hard to support the best basic and translational research in our institutes, with strong scientific and administrative coordination. New investments include:

• A major new research institute in Cambridge, opening in 2006
• A new, state of the art building for our Beatson Institute in Glasgow, opening in 2006.

Funding the best clinical research

Providing the best research support for clinical research in universities and hospitals is critical to improving the lives of cancer patients. In 2006 we will be:

• Reviewing and improving the way we fund our clinical centres
• Launching a new experimental cancer medicine initiative with the UK Departments of Health, providing funding worth £35m over five years.

Turning the best research into new treatments

Turning the best research into new treatments for cancer is one of our biggest priorities and greatest strengths.

• We will grow our support for drug discovery, increasing the number of new experimental therapies produced by our researchers
• By 2010 we will double our funding for drug development activity, increasing the number of new therapies we can test in early phase clinical trials
• In 2006 we will provide over £1m more funding for our late phase Clinical Trials Units, taking the best new treatments into clinical practice.