Wednesday 1 December 1999
A major new £20 million development at the Institute of Cancer Research in Chelsea is taking a multi-disciplinary approach - unique in Britain - and the latest technologies, to solve the mystery of cancer genes and develop new treatments for the disease.
The centre opens as a MORI poll commissioned by the Institute shows that support for cancer research is a priority for the British public - with four out of five (80 per cent) of adults saying they would support cancer or leukaemia above any other medical research charity.
Cancer came well ahead of the other 9 options of medical research in the survey. Support for medical research charities is second only to children's charities as the public's preferred type of charity. However, over half of those who would be prepared to support children's charities would also be inclined to support medical research.
The Institute of Cancer Research is Europe's largest cancer research centre through its unique relationship with the Royal Marsden Hospital. It was rated the UK's top cancer research centre in a recent government assessment. This major investment has sent it racing ahead and will provide a blue- print for the way in which cancer research is conducted in the future.
The centre brings together leading structural biologists focusing on the fundamental workings of cancer genes and chemists who translate these findings into pioneering new treatments.
Institute of Cancer Research scientists have mapped or cloned more genes than any other cancer centre in the world. Most recently, the Institute's Professor Mike Stratton who discovered the breast cancer gene BRCA2, won funding from The Wellcome Trust to embark on the Cancer Genome Project at The Sanger Centre, to map all the genes involved in cancer.
Dr Rigby, Chief Executive of the Institute of Cancer Research commented: "Cancer genetics is the cutting edge of cancer research, and the Institute has an impressive track record. With this major new £20 million investment we are embarking on a grand project with 250 scientists including those at our site in Sutton, all working in one direction, in a focused and co-ordinated programme to understand cancer genes and develop new treatments.
These scientists will study 100,000 genes, sifting those involved in the cancer process, identifying targets for therapy, and working out whether interfering with them can kill the cancer cells."
Research at the Institute's expanded laboratories on Fulham Road includes:
The Section of Gene Function and Regulation, led by Dr Tariq Enver, is working on understanding genetic interactions and discovering the mechanisms which cause healthy cells to become cancerous.
Structural Biologists, led by Professors Laurence Pearl and David Barford, are able to determine the structure of normal and abnormal proteins by creating 3D computer images of the molecules that make cells work. This section includes the Cancer Research UK Bio-Molecular Structure Unit led by Professor Stephen Neidle.
The Cancer Research UK Centre for Cell and Molecular Biology led by Professor Chris Marshall. Much of the research in the centre focuses on the molecular dissection of cancer genes, examining what causes cell proliferation and working out which proteins act as the brakes on this process.
The Leukaemia Research Fund Centre for Cell and Molecular Biology of Leukaemia, led by Professor Mel Greaves is concerned with advancing the understanding of leukaemia, leading to the introduction of preventative measures and designing new molecular tools for diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of leukaemia.
- ends -
For more information, please contact the Institute of Cancer Research press office on:-
Tel: 0207 970 6030
email: [email protected]
Notes to Editors
About the Institute of Cancer Research:
The Institute of Cancer Research was established in 1909 to carry out research into the causes of cancer and to develop new strategies for its prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure. It has a unique relationship with The Royal Marsden Hospital so that research moves quickly from bench to bedside.
Among its many successes the Institute of Cancer Research has:
- Discovered that DNA malfunction is the basic cause of many cancers
- Demonstrated the link between tobacco smoking and lung cancer
- Developed many of the key drugs now used in the treatment of cancer
- Isolated the breast cancer gene BRCA2
- Developed the revolutionary treatment for testicular cancer which has led to today's 96 per cent cure rate
- Mapped or cloned more cancer-related genes than any other cancer research organisation in the world
Technical Note:
MORI interviewed a representative quota sample of 2,003 adults aged 15+ in 159 sampling points throughout Great Britain. Fieldwork was conducted from 19 Ð22 November 1999. All interviews were conducted in-home. Data have been weighted to the known profile of the British population.
Please note:
Unfortunately the press office are unable to answer queries from the general public. For general cancer information please refer to The Institute's cancer information page.