"This new centre in London will mean that even more treatments can be developed that will benefit more patients in the future."
Michael Durham, cancer patient from North London
The University College London (UCL) Cancer Research UK Centre - the first of our Centres to be opened in London - will foster world class research into the causes of cancer, using this knowledge to discover and develop new cancer treatments.
The UCL centre joins the charity's national network of virtual multi-disciplinary Cancer Research UK Centres.
Research at the Centre includes drug discovery and the development of new treatments such as gene therapy. The scientists will focus on research into the biology and treatment of head and neck, ovarian, lung and blood cancers, as well as sarcomas and brain tumours, which will help to provide more effective treatments for these diseases in the future. Researchers at the Centre are also studying the effect of lifestyle factors - such as smoking and obesity - on cancer risk.
Cancer Research UK already funds an extensive programme of research at UCL and its affiliated institutes, but the launch of the new centre will see the charity increase its contribution by committing almost £1 million a year to research at this Centre.
The UCL Cancer Research UK Centre is a partnership between UCL, the UCL Hospital NHS Trust, the Great Ormond Street Hospital, the Royal Free Hospital, Moorfields Eye Hospital, the London School of Pharmacy and Cancer Research UK.
Related information on the UCL Cancer Research UK Centre
