A New Era in Comprehensive Cancer Research and Care
Cancer is one of the most complex diseases, with one in two people receiving a cancer diagnosis during their lifetime. While our research contributes to the development of new treatments, survival rates for hard-to-treat cancers – such as oesophageal, liver, pancreatic, brain, and lung – remain low.
Tackling this challenge requires more than scientific breakthroughs. It demands a fully integrated approach that unites researchers, clinicians, and patients to turn breakthroughs in the lab into real-world impact.
The Christie is an Accredited Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Comprehensive Cancer Centre (CCC) status is awarded by the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) to institutions that meet high standards in cancer care, research, and education.
In 2008, The Christie became the first UK organisation to achieve Comprehensive Cancer Centre (CCC) accreditation, recognised for excellence in cancer care, research, and education.
For its successful 2025 re-accreditation, The Christie partnered with the MCRC to showcase the city’s collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to cancer.
Today, there are more than 40 OECI-accredited CCCs across Europe, alongside major centres in Asia, Australia, and North America – firmly placing Manchester within a global network of leading institutions.
A Collaborative Cancer Ecosystem
Unlike many other CCCs, cancer research in Manchester is not confined to a single site.
The MCRC spans a cluster of specialised, purpose-built research facilities for proton therapy, cancer imaging, basic and discovery cancer sciences and cancer biomarker development; all located in close proximity to precision oncology provided at The Christie.
Additional cancer diagnostics, surgery and early detection programmes exist at Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, and within community general practices. This strategic geo-spatial layout fosters collaboration and accelerates the translation of research discoveries amongst 3 million people.
Our model of cancer care proved to be incredibly resilient in 2017 when a fire destroyed the Paterson research building. Despite significant disruption, clinical services continued, and research was swiftly relocated to a temporary location in Alderley Park. The MCRC partnership supported the build of a new, state-of-the-art Paterson Building, which opened in 2024.
Some of the key facilities around the MCRC in Withington
Key institutions within the Manchester cancer ecosystem include:
- CRUK Manchester Institute
- CRUK Manchester Centre
- CRUK National Biomarker Centre
- Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester
- Christie NHS Foundation Trust Research and Innovation Division
- Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre (WMIC)
- Proton Beam Therapy Centre
- NIHR BRC Clinical Research Facility
The MCRC brings all the elements of a cancer centre together, from an education, research and clinical delivery standpoint.
Professor Rob Bristow
Director of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre
Manchester Cancer Research Centre: A Model for Integrated Cancer Research and Care
At the heart of cancer research and care in Manchester is the Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC), a strategic partnership between:
- The University of Manchester – World-leading interdisciplinary academic research and home of the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre.
- The Christie NHS Foundation Trust – One of Europe’s leading cancer centres and first in the UK to gain Comprehensive Cancer Centre accreditation.
- Cancer Research UK (CRUK) – Supporting the CRUK Manchester Institute and CRUK Centre, ACED, RadNet, and Clinical Academic Training Awards.
This partnership also includes associate institutes, trusts, and funding bodies – driving major success in securing grants and advancing pioneering research and clinical innovation.
The MCRC partners with the Christie Comprehensive Cancer Centre in transforming cancer outcomes for all. This integrated approach brings together world-leading scientists, clinicians, and educators to ensure every discovery moves swiftly from the lab to the patient’s bedside.
What is a Comprehensive Cancer Centre (CCC)?
Comprehensive Cancer Centres streamline the cancer research-to-clinic pipeline, ensuring an integrated continuum of care. This designation specifically recognises centres that provide a full spectrum of cancer services, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment, research and education.
The Impact of a CCC in Manchester and the UK
Holding CCC accreditation ensures continual advancements to research, innovation and care – driving improved survival rates and quality of life for cancer patients.
Holding CCC accreditation enables:
- International benchmarking against 40 other CCCs using similar, exacting international criteria
- A rigorous peer review which allows us to measure ourselves against the highest global standards and drive continuous improvement
- Global recognition that attracts talent, funding, and international partnerships
- Patient access to novel clinical trials and cutting-edge treatments
- Aligning world-leading impact stories for internal and external communications, philanthropy, and Research Excellence Awards
The Hallmarks of an International Comprehensive Cancer Centre
To achieve CCC status, institutions must demonstrate national and international research collaborations, a strong clinical trials infrastructure, and leading postgraduate and professional education programmes. For us, these hallmarks are more than requirements, they are the foundations of our future success. We apply these principles within diverse communities in Manchester and across the globe, exemplified by testing Manchester’s mobile cancer early detection programme within Sub-Saharan Africa, to detect and cure lethal oesophageal cancer.
A CCC depends on cancer team science whereby scientist, clinicians across disciples work closely with patients to co-create high ambitions for our research. It’s a research culture of collaboration, rather than competition.
Professor Rob Bristow
Director of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre
How The Christie CCC Benefits Patients
Prevention and Early Detection
The Christie is a key partner in the International Alliance for Cancer Early Detection (ACED) network, a global initiative to diagnose cancer earlier. Earlier detection means less invasive treatment, improved survival rates, and reduced pressure on the NHS.
Reducing Health Inequalities
Through local treatment centres and the “Christie at Home” programme, treatments are brought closer to patients, reducing travel burdens and improving access for underserved communities.
International Collaborations
CCC accreditation reinforces The Christie’s and MCRC’s position as a globally recognised leader in cancer research and care, driving high-impact international collaboration.
The newly established C8 Consortium – bringing together eight of the world’s leading research-driven CCCs – advances translational cancer research and enables benchmarking against other top centres, fostering continuous improvement.
The newly established C8 Consortium – bringing together eight of the world’s leading research-driven CCCs.
Clinical Trials In a Digital World
The Christie runs over 750 cutting-edge clinical trials each year, with many being Phase I (new drugs or technologies) designed by our scientists or in collaboration with Pharma. Importantly, our patients help shape these trials through interactions with our researchers. Our digital outcomes unit also measures cancer survival and patient reported side-effects to determine future standards of care.
Our Next-Gen Leaders
Through the newly rebranded Christie Institute for Cancer Education, staff receive best practice training and share innovations globally, ensuring patients in Manchester and around the globe benefit from the latest knowledge in cancer treatment and care.
The MCRC also offers a range of cancer-focused training programmes with a focus on next-gen research leadership. This includes Cancer Research UK-funded PhD programmes that provide state-of-the-art facilities and expert mentorship to conduct the best research in a rapidly evolving digital and data-driven world.
Glenn and Russell
Brothers Glenn and Russell celebrated the end of successful precision radiotherapy treatment at The Christie’s local radiotherapy centre in Salford, after being diagnosed with prostate cancer within a month of each other.
Jan
After being diagnosed with metastatic melanoma, Jan joined a clinical trial focused on improving outcomes for patients with inoperable or advanced melanoma.
Looking Ahead
An Exciting Future for our World Leading Research Co-created With Our Patients
The MCRC and Christie Comprehensive Cancer Centre are at the forefront of a new molecular and digital era in cancer research and care.
Our unique cancer ecosystem, powerful international partnerships, research co-creation with our patients and CCC accreditation places us among the global leads that will shape the future of oncology.
Our patients will work closely with us to achieve faster access to state-of-the-art and practice-changing innovations, a swift translation of discoveries into the NHS, and the use of AI in understanding individual cancer risk assessment and response to our novel treatments.
Our Cancer Team Science approach ensures that every advance in our research leads to a real change at the bedside and added hope for our patients.
Our Vision
Our Values
Our Impact
Our Leadership and Strategic Team
