Our research

The money raised by the Bobby Moore Fund is spent on high-quality bowel cancer research carried out by leading scientists working across the UK. In order to ensure the very best quality research, we have established a series of Bobby Moore Research Fellowships. These are awarded on a competitive basis to ensure that only the very best scientists are chosen. Since 1993, the Bobby Moore Fund has raised over £12 million and funded over 36 projects, including research fellowships, around the UK.

In addition, the Bobby Moore Fund sponsored a colorectal cancer session at the NCRI Conference 2007 and 2008 and funded a laboratory at St Mark's Hospital, London. Currently the Bobby Moore Lab is the site of a primary colorectal tissue bank and so has played an important role in facilitating high quality colorectal research on human tissue samples. This tissue bank supports research not only for investigators based at St Mark's, but also for the wider research community.

Some of the researchers who were based at St Mark's have, over the years, moved to new research institutions in order to provide the scientists with the maximum opportunity to collaborate with other key scientists in the field of bowel cancer research and have access to the best facilities. Similarly, the Bobby Moore Lab and tissue collection currently based at St Mark's Hospital will also be relocated to ensure the long-term security of the collection and optimal access to the material stored in the tissue bank.

Currently the Bobby Moore Fund is funding several new bowel cancer projects ranging from studies into the genetics of bowel cancer, new surgical techniques, new treatments such as antibody therapy as well as ways to prevent and reduce the risk of developing bowel cancer. In addition, there are studies taking place looking at new ways to ensure early detection of the disease. This is key because, if diagnosed early, over 80% of bowel cancer cases can be successfully treated.

The projects funded by the Bobby Moore Fund take place across the UK and current research locations include Dundee, Bristol, Birmingham, Oxford, Cardiff, London, Cambridge and Belfast.

If you would like more information on the research funded by the Bobby Moore Fund, please contact us at bmf@cancer.org.uk.