Bruce Daniels joins the MCRC as Head of Strategic Partnerships and Operations
The Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC), a partnership between The University of Manchester, Cancer Research UK and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, is delighted to announce that Bruce Daniels will join the MCRC on 13th October 2025 as Head of Strategic Partnerships and Operations.
Bruce joins the MCRC from The University of Cambridge, where he served as Assistant Director of Research Operations within the School of Physical Sciences. He brings a strong background in cancer-focused operations, having previously held key roles at the CRUK Cambridge Centre and the CRUK Gurdon Institute.
Bruce has also worked as a lawyer, a principal administrator for a laboratory group, and a Baptist minister.
It is a privilege to be joining the team at the Manchester Cancer Research Centre, who have already made me feel very welcome. The MCRC represents a world-leading model of Cancer Team Science, uniting The University of Manchester, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, CRUK, and a growing portfolio of international collaborators. I am looking forward to building on these foundations by strengthening existing partnerships, forging new collaborations with industry and philanthropic organisations, and enabling innovative research to move seamlessly from bench to bedside.
Bruce Daniels
Head of Strategic Partnerships and Operations
With over twenty years of experience in senior management, Bruce is excellently placed to lead the MCRC’s core operations team. A key priority for Bruce will be the development and implementation of the MCRC’s united and integrated cancer research strategy, delivering a streamlined research-to-clinical pipeline. He will work closely with the MCRC’s core partners to ensure close collaboration in specific research areas and alignment of long-term visions.
As a key member of the C8 Consortium, an alliance of the world’s leading Comprehensive Cancer Centres, the MCRC places international collaboration at the heart of its research strategy. Bruce will play a pivotal role in strengthening partnerships across the consortium, driving joint research and innovation.
In addition, Bruce will play a central role in coordinating efforts across a wide network of stakeholders, including researchers and leaders from the CRUK Scientific Advisory Board, the CRUK Manchester Institute, the National Biomarker Centre, and senior R&I staff at The Christie.
Bruce will also help drive strategic alignment across the MCRC, Health Innovation Manchester (HInM), the Greater Manchester Cancer Plan, and other key research structures that underpin the MCRC’s vision for impactful, collaborative cancer research.
Lastly, Bruce will play a vital role in leading and developing the professional services team at the MCRC. He will also serve as a key point of contact for both the School of Medical Sciences and the wider Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health.
After an extensive international search, it is my pleasure to welcome Bruce Daniels to the MCRC as our new Head of Strategic Partnerships and Operations. At a time of dynamic growth and strategic planning for the MCRC, Bruce’s arrival is perfectly timed to support our joint scientific and industrial ambitions. With senior-level experience across CRUK and university operations, Bruce brings a wealth of expertise that will be instrumental in translating discovery science into meaningful clinical impact – a befitting addition to our research-intensive, comprehensive cancer centre.
Professor Rob Bristow
Director, Manchester Cancer Research Centre
About the MCRC:
The Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC) was established in 2006 by three founding partners: The University of Manchester, Cancer Research UK and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. Our strategic partnership harnesses the power of basic and discovery research within the CRUK Manchester Institute, the wider scientific community within The University of Manchester, including the chemical and physical sciences, as well as the research taking place within the clinic.
It is our ambition to become a world-leading comprehensive centre for translational cancer research – transforming the clinical care of cancer patients by developing and implementing an integrated personalised medicine strategy.
