Cancer research in Manchester ranked top in the UK
18 December 2008
Cancer research in Manchester has been confirmed as world leading by a prestigious national assessment.
The government-led Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) is a comprehensive assessment of the quality of research in universities and has officially ranked cancer research in Manchester as the best in the UK. 90% of the cancer research undertaken by The University of Manchester over the last six years has been assessed as internationally excellent (the top two rankings – 4 and 3 stars).
Professor Tony Whetton, Head of the School of Cancer and Imaging Sciences at the University of Manchester said;
“This is a fantastic result and gives the highest possible endorsement to the outstanding research that is taking place in Manchester. Our work through the Manchester Cancer Research Centre which is a unique partnership between the University, the Christie and Cancer Research UK has helped achieve this success.”
The research undertaken is from laboratory work to drug trials with cancer patients, and covers the many different types of cancer – all focused on improving cancer diagnosis, treatment and care.
The Christie runs one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. It is currently building a new £35 million patient treatment centre which will include the largest early clinical trials unit in the world, and research undertaken in this trials unit will be led by University staff. The University has also just built a £25 million Imaging Centre on the Christie site to support both cancer and neuroscience research.
Manchester’s outstanding reputation for cancer research has been able to attract leading world experts from across the globe. Childhood leukaemia is one of the cancer research areas where Manchester is leading the way. The teenage cancer unit at The Christie is the second largest of only eight specialist units in the country and has attracted national attention and investment from organisations such as the Teenage Cancer Trust. Professor Vaskar Saha, an expert in childhood leukaemia who came up from London to work at The University of Manchester said;
“The formidable combination of The University of Manchester and The Christie provides a unique environment for the clinician scientist. There are only a few places in the world where scientists and doctors work so closely together and this brings about great results.”