How we're going to get there

Our goals demonstrate what we want to achieve. But there is much to do if we want to reach them by 2020. Our activities in the coming year will help us move closer towards them and our vision of beating cancer.

Our Executive Board

Planning is crucial to what we do. It helps to give focus to our work and determines which areas we will spend time, money and resources on. This is where our Executive Board comes in. Our Board is made up of highly-skilled and talented people who are experts in their fields. They are responsible for setting out our short-term and long-term strategy for everything from scientific research to fundraising to resources. The Board also proposes the annual budget, which is then submitted to the Council of Trustees for approval.

The year ahead

Here are just some of the plans we have in place for expanding our activities over the coming year.

Research

• Our new career establishment awards scheme will help to support the development of world-class cancer scientists.
• We will continue to focus on genetic epidemiology – the study of genetic factors affecting the health and illness of populations – to maintain our reputation as leaders in this field of cancer research. For example, we will be funding more studies into the detection of small gene differences within the UK population that might be linked to cancer.
• We will be developing ideas for sustaining the London Research Institute as a world-class institute for basic cancer research.
• We will be investing in further drug development activities by establishing new drug discovery groups; building a new Biotherapeutics Development Unit; and expanding the Cancer Research Technology development laboratories.

Campaigning and coming together

• Through public campaigns, we will be lobbying for the best screening programmes to be offered throughout the UK and for more people to use them.
• The expansion of our mobile cancer awareness unit project will help to inform people, especially those in deprived areas, about cancer and what they can do to reduce their risk and detect it earlier.
• We will work to ensure that people living with cancer can access information personalised to their needs, when they need it. We will do this through our CancerHelp UK website and by establishing strategic partnerships with other organisations.
• We will enable researchers, clinicians, patients and supporters to come together more than ever before – to strengthen local research, information and fundraising activities.

Our About Us site has more information about our goals, including background information and strategies.