Guy's Cancer to be part of new global powerhouse for cancer research

Scientists at the Cancer Centre at Guy’s will help to transform cancer research as part of a new Cancer Research UK City of London Centre, which was announced today (Tuesday 18 September).

The new centre will make London a world-leading hub for cancer research and treatment thanks to £14 million investment from Cancer Research UK.

It will bring together leading researchers from King’s College London, many of whom are based at the Cancer Centre at Guy’s, with others from UCL (University College London), the Francis Crick Institute and the Barts Cancer Institute at Queen Mary University of London, marking the first time that these institutions have partnered to tackle cancer on such a large scale.

The Centre will become a global centre of excellence for the development of biotherapeutics, a pioneering field of cancer research which refers to any treatment produced by or involving living cells. Research will span all types of cancer, with a focus on childhood cancers.

Around 14 million patients are cared for by the NHS trusts affiliated with these research centres, including those at King’s Health Partners, which is a collaboration between King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’, King’s College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts. Thanks to the new City of London Centre, cancer patients throughout London will have the opportunity to take part in pioneering research as part of their treatment, giving them access to the latest innovations in biological cancer therapies.

David Cheesman, director of the cancer programme at King’s Health Partners, said: “We are delighted that Cancer Research UK has designated King’s College London and Guy’s Cancer as part of the new City of London Major Centre. The Cancer Centre at Guy’s will help to revolutionise the way that cancer research is conducted across London and ultimately benefit future patients.

“This is an important step towards achieving our vision of establishing a world-class cancer service at Guy’s and St Thomas’ that is research driven and clinically led.”

Professor Peter Parker, the King’s Health Partners Cancer Research UK Centre lead, said: “Biotherapies in the form of immune interventions are revolutionising cancer treatments in some cancer patients. These exceptional accomplishments bring a compelling need to dig deeper into the underlying principles that bring success to these approaches, in order to develop a wider spectrum of interventions that deliver improved outcomes to a much greater population of cancer patients.

“The strategic alignment, concerted training and sharing of resources with our City of London Centre partners is crucial to delivering this. This initiative is a watershed for cancer patients in London and far beyond.”

Dr Iain Foulkes, Cancer Research UK’s executive director of research and innovation, added: “Our investment represents a major vote of confidence in London’s place at the heart of global biomedical research and is predicted to bring enormous benefit to the city’s residents, businesses and hospitals.”