PACCAR and Cancer Research UK unveil advanced diagnostic laboratory in Manchester

Cancer Research UK opens its new PACCAR Laboratory at the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research in Manchester today.

Researchers in the new lab will focus on turning discoveries arising from basic scientific programmes into new treatments for cancer patients. This field of ‘translational’ cancer research is vital to Cancer Research UK’s vision to beat cancer.

The PACCAR Laboratory has been established thanks to a £250,000 donation from the PACCAR Foundation, and will form a major component of Cancer Research UK’s overall efforts to take basic research in Manchester into the clinic as diagnostic tools and medicines. The new laboratory is based at the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, which is a research institute within the University of Manchester and funded by Cancer Research UK.

PACCAR’s Chairman and Chief Executive, Mr Mark Pigott OBE, said: “PACCAR is pleased to be a major contributor to the important scientific and clinical studies undertaken by Cancer Research UK. Their leading-edge medical investigation is critical to the efforts to better diagnose and hopefully cure this terrible disease. We applaud Cancer Research UK leadership and initiatives as demonstrated by their proactive vision to significantly enhance their laboratory capabilities.”

Professor Alex Markham, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, said: “The PACCAR Laboratory will form a major component of Cancer Research UK’s overall efforts to take the outputs of our basic research in Manchester into the clinic as diagnostic tools and medicines.”

He added: “As well as making this unique contribution to scientific activities in the North West and the prospects for local cancer patients, facilities like the PACCAR Laboratory are needed at all Cancer Research UK’s clinical centres across Britain. We are grateful to the PACCAR Foundation for helping set this national effort in motion.”

Professor Nic Jones, Director of the Paterson Institute said: “The PACCAR Laboratory will provide a big boost to the cancer research efforts of the Paterson Institute and of Cancer Research UK. We are very grateful for this generous donation and the benefits it will provide. For instance, it greatly enhances our ability to carry out clinical trials working with the Derek Crowther Unit at the Christie Hospital to the rigorous quality assurance demanded by European standards on good clinical laboratory practice.”

Mr Stuart Heys, Managing Director of Leyland Trucks and General Manager of the PACCAR Foundation in the UK, added: “We are delighted to be able to support the work of Cancer Research UK in Manchester. As a world-class company with a strong legacy in the north-west of England, PACCAR supports initiatives that will make a real positive difference to people in the region and throughout the UK.”

PACCAR is a global technology leader in the design, manufacture and customer support of high-quality light, medium and heavy-duty trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF nameplates. It has over 1,000 employees at its world-class Leyland facility and 200 employees at its UK sales headquarters in Thame.

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact Steve Palmer in the Cancer Research UK press office on 020 7061 8300 or, out-of-hours, the duty press officer on 07050 264 059.