Imperial and the Institute of Cancer Research, London, are to partner on a research centre focused on tackling the disease, it was announced today.

The Cancer Research Centre of Excellence (CRCE) will see academics and clinicians at the College and the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) working together to deliver a world-leading programme of cancer research – paving the way for new therapies and interventions.

The virtual centre will be headed by the ICR’s Chief Executive Professor Paul Workman, and will combine resources and infrastructure from both parties to help develop breakthrough cancer treatments, improve diagnosis, and find new ways to prevent the disease.

The new partnership is in line with Imperial’s Strategy 2015-20, where the College commits to strengthening collaboration with external partners – including business, academia, and non-profit, healthcare and government institutions.

Better together

Professor Gavin Screaton, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine

Professor Gavin Screaton, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial, said: "Cancer is one of the most important challenges we’re facing in healthcare today, and Imperial has long been committed to tackling it.

"Our world-leading research is already saving lives, but we know that through collaboration we can achieve more.

"This important step will allow us to harness the expertise of Imperial - across the faculties of Medicine, Natural Sciences and Engineering – and the Institute of Cancer Research to drive pioneering and innovative advances in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Our plans are ambitious. We look forward to closer working with colleagues at the ICR as this partnership develops."

Professor Workman, Director of the new Cancer Research Centre of Excellence, said: “I am excited about this important new strategic partnership with Imperial that will allow the ICR to broaden the scope and raise the ambitions of our cancer research. By pooling our resources and expertise, and by working together in strategic collaboration, we will be able to do more together than we could have done alone. 

“The ICR will be able to expand its leadership role in cancer research – and through access to the wide-ranging resources of such a top class multi-faculty university, we will be able to move into important new areas of essential multidisciplinary science and accelerate our ability to make discoveries that bring benefit to cancer patients.”