World-leading research receives cash boost in Manchester

Cancer Research UK will invest an additional £6m each year into world-leading research in Manchester and create up to an additional 100 new jobs.

The charity’s annual investment into the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute will increase from £11m to more than £17m this year – putting the city at the heart of its mission to beat cancer.

The boost in funding will be used to recruit up to eight senior researchers who will build on the Institute’s expertise and advance cancer research in areas including immunology, data science and AI.

Once fully established, their labs will attract up to 100 world leading researchers and research staff to join Manchester’s fast-growing research community.

The investment will also help to develop the next generation of clinician scientists – funding two new positions in partnership with The Christie. This will further help to combine world-class research with placing patient care at each stage of the research journey.

Bringing new knowledge into the Manchester research ecosystem will be matched with investment in cutting-edge research and computational technologies.

These will allow the Institute’s world leading facilities to study cancer under closer detail than ever before and build a platform to ensure the long-term emergence of new discoveries.

The Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute sits in the Paterson building in Withington and is part of The University of Manchester. The building is directly connected to The Christie which allows cells and samples from patients to be taken to the research lab in a matter of minutes.

Recently appointed Director of the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, Professor Samra Turajlić hugely welcomes the boost in funding.

She said: “Having recently left London to move to Manchester, I am delighted that Cancer Research UK recognises the level of expertise at the Institute and the power of our cancer research partnerships in Manchester.

“The extra investment will make a huge difference moving forwards and will help us continue to attract the brightest minds to the city.

“While we are living in an exciting time for research, nearly 1 in 2 people.* are set to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, so there’s still much more to do. Patients will be at the very heart of everything we do and the Institute will be a real engine room for discovery.”

Sharon Quennell, from Chadderton in Oldham, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 at the age of 36 after noticing a lump on her left breast. She underwent surgery followed by 12 weeks of chemotherapy treatment.

Now 62, she celebrated a quarter of a century free of cancer last year. Sharon works at North Manchester General Hospital and is a single mum to Ryan, aged 31, who has autism and learning disabilities.

She has visited the laboratories in the Institute many times.

Sharon said: “The extra investment is amazing news for Manchester.

“As a former cancer patient, I am always humbled to hear about the exciting research work happening on my doorstep.”

Professor Ashley Blom, Vice President and Dean of Biology, Medicine and Health at The University of Manchester said: “The CRUK Manchester Institute sits at the heart of the city’s cancer research strength, uniting world‑class scientists under one mission. Its teams push the boundaries of discovery, from understanding the biology of cancer to developing treatments that change clinical practice. So this increase in funding is great news for the University and the city, which holds a pre‑eminent place in global cancer research, driving discoveries that shape the future of treatment. This welcome news will create more opportunities for scientists to turn bold ideas into breakthroughs that can change what’s possible for patients.”

Professor Fiona Blackhall, Director of Research and Innovation and Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, comments: “What makes Manchester such an important hub for cancer research is that our research facilities are located on the site of one of Europe’s leading cancer hospitals, The Christie. This means we can carry out research at every stage – from basic science to trials involving patients – all on one site.

“This increase in investment reflects the level of expertise we have here in Manchester and the difference that we’re making for our patients.

“Cancer research is a collaborative effort and we at The Christie are proud to work with our partners in the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute and The University of Manchester to find new and better ways to detect, diagnose and treat cancer.”

Every year, around 45,800 people are diagnosed with cancer in the North West. **

Thanks to the generosity of its supporters, Cancer Research UK has helped double cancer survival in the UK over the past 50 years and is the world’s largest charitable funder of cancer research.

* See CRUK website here

** Based on the average annual number of new cases of cancer excluding non-melanoma skin cancer (ICD10 C00-C96 excluding C44) diagnosed in the North West in 2021-2023.