Establish a UK-wide network of Cancer Research UK Centres to improve outcomes, engage the broader public and increase the knowledge flow from laboratories to patients and vice versa.
The aim of establishing Cancer Research UK Centres is to create a UK-wide network of long-term, sustainable centres of excellence in cancer. Cancer Research UK Centres will bring closeness and relevance to patients by systematically linking the research activities of the Charity with patient care and public engagement. This in turn will help to improve cancer outcomes, engage the broader public and increase the knowledge flow from laboratories to patients and vice versa.
During the years 2009-2014, our strategy is to:
- Establish up to 20 Cancer Research UK Centres across the UK, which will:
- Enhance cancer research in the UK.
- Ensure that cancer research feeds through to improved patient benefit and public health.
- Train the clinical and non-clinical research workforce of the future.
- Ensure a broad research coverage across the UK (geography, cancer types, modalities, research areas).
- Expand public engagement, information provision and local fundraising.
- Be the first port of call for new developments and strategic initiatives instigated by Cancer Research UK.
- Offer an opportunity to develop new partnerships, for example to work with disease specific charities.
- Ensure that at least 2-3 Centres develop pancreatic cancer as a core theme and at least 2-3 Centres develop surgical research as a core theme.
What we will not do:
- We will not provide infrastructure funding or training fellowships for Cancer Research UK funded research other than in our Institutes and Centres.
- We will not implement the Centres initiative through a standard open-call response mode funding stream - each Cancer Research UK Centre will be different and so simple guidelines and a single model would not be appropriate.
