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Manchester Cancer Research Centre announces proposals for a new state-of-the-art research building

The Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC) today announced proposals for a new state-of-the-art research building which will be crucial in helping the MCRC to develop and improve cancer treatment.

"The rapid expansion of high quality research at the MCRC has reached a point where future growth will be compromised by lack of physical space. We undertake vital research to develop and improve cancer treatments and urgently need a new purpose-built building to expand and enhance this life-saving research," said Professor Nic Jones Director of the MCRC and Chief Scientist of Cancer Research UK.

The proposals are for a new research building and associated low-rise multistorey car park on The Christie site. The proposed site is directly opposite the main outpatients' entrance of The Christie on Wilmslow Road, between Cotton Lane and Kinnaird Road.

"Cancer research and treatment is evolving- we are entering an exciting era where the goal is a personalised approach to cancer therapy. In the future, each patient will be treated according to the specific characteristics of their tumour," said Professor Jones. Reaching that point requires research partnerships between laboratory scientists and clinicians, between large academic institutions and major NHS hospitals, and between academia and industry. The MCRC is a partnership between The University of Manchester (incorporating the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research), The Christie and Cancer Research UK.

The MCRC takes an integrated approach to cancer research which is made possible by the immediate proximity on The Christie site in south Manchester of the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, the Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre and The Christie clinical trials unit in its brand new £35 million patient treatment centre. By strengthening the research base of the MCRC through provision of more and improved research facilities, the MCRC will be ideally placed to achieve progress through partnership and to deliver research that has life-changing potential for cancer patients.

"Cancer remains one of the major healthcare challenges worldwide, in the UK and here in the North West. The MCRC's vision is the development of personalised cancer treatments, selected based on improved knowledge of each individual patient's disease characteristics, leading directly to better patient outcomes. The proposed new research building will ensure that the MCRC provides outstanding opportunities and a vibrant environment for researchers, clinicians and external partners to work collaboratively towards this vision through a single-site 'bench to bedside' approach," said Professor Jones.

Notes for editors

About the proposed new MCRC research building

The proposed new building would focus entirely on early cancer research that does not involve patients or patient treatment. The new building would provide for expansion of key research areas and the scope to co-locate selected researchers and their teams. Following discussion and agreement with MCRC partners, an investment of £20 million has already been secured for the development of the proposed research building. Cancer Research UK would provide £10 million towards the new build with an additional £10 million from The University of Manchester and land being provided by The Christie.

About the Manchester Cancer Research Centre

The MCRC was created in 2006 as a partnership between three key organisations:

• The University of Manchester - Britain's biggest single-site university with an international reputation for its research and four Nobel Laureates on its current staff. In the 2008 UK Research Assessment Exercise, Manchester was ranked 3rd in the UK for its research power (combining research quality with critical mass) and top in the UK for quality in cancer studies
• Cancer Research UK - the world's leading independent organisation dedicated to cancer research. It provides core funding for the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, which became part of the University in 2006 and is at the heart of the work of the MCRC
• The Christie - an internationally-recognised specialist cancer centre and leader in clinical research. The Christie treats more than 40,000 patients a year, with around 26% patients referred from other parts of the country for specialist treatment. It has been achieving research world firsts for over 100 years and runs the largest early phase trials unit in the world.

For further information contact:

Alicia Custis - Head of Communications
Tel: 0161 446 3706
Mobile: 07899 797065
Email: alicia.custis@christie.nhs.uk

Maria Jackson - Communications Officer
Tel: 0161 446 3613
Mobile: 07795 413893
Email: Maria.Jackson@christie.nhs.uk