Cancer imaging initiative

The Cancer Imaging Initiative has established a network of four centres and four research programmes to drive forward multidisciplinary cancer imaging research in the UK.

The initiative is a partnership between Cancer Research UK and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The initiative is now in its second round of funding, which commenced in December 2013.

The aims of this partnership

This initiative will build on phase one and further enhance cancer imaging research within the UK. The expectation for successful Centres is that they will:

• Integrate preclinical and clinical research to facilitate the improved detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer
• Involve multidisciplinary research, encompassing cancer research and novel engineering, information and communication technology, and physical science research
• Be integral to their host institution’s translational research strategy
• Work together to develop a network of excellence that will drive forward cancer imaging research in the UK

Cancer Imaging Centres

Our four Cancer Imaging Centres are involved in both pre-clinical and clinical cancer imaging, and have access to a wide range of different imaging technologies.

• The University of Cambridge and The University of Manchester Imaging Centre, led by Professor Kevin Brindle and Professor Alan Jackson.
• The Institute of Cancer Research Imaging Centre, led by Professor Martin Leach and Professor Nandita deSouza.
• Kings College London & University of London Imaging Centre, led by Professor Tony Ng and Professor Richard Begent. 
• University of Oxford Imaging Centre, led by Professor Gillies McKenna.

Cancer Imaging Programmes

There are also four imaging programmes, each focused on one particular type of imaging technology and how it can be used in a specific area of cancer research.

• University of Birmingham Imaging Programme, led by Dr Andrew Peet as part of the Childhood Cancer & Leukaemia Group (CCLG), investigating the use of MRI scanning for children with cancer.
• The Royal Surrey County Hospital Imaging Programme, led by Professor Ken Young, working to improve breast cancer detection by using digital X-rays.
• Newcastle University Imaging Programme led by Dr Ross Maxwell, using imaging to speed up the discovery of new cancer drugs.
• University of Sheffield, led by Professor Gill Tozer, using MRI and laser imaging techniques to develop drugs that block the growth of blood vessels into tumours.

The Centres and the Programmes are overseen by the Cancer Imaging Review Group, and are reviewed every year.