Our research areas

Some scientists want to find the answers to very general questions, like:

• How do cells work?
• Why do cells grow?
• How do cells know when to divide?
• What are the differences between healthy cells and cancer cells?

This kind of work is known as basic or lab research and is done in the laboratory.

Basic research is the study of how cells work, and how these normal processes go wrong in cancer. This kind of work provides the foundations for the development of future tests and treatments for cancer.

Scientists who do basic cancer research look at the molecules that cause this disease, such as proteins and DNA. They try to find out what goes wrong when cancer develops. 

Find out more about our progress in cancer biology, and our current research in this area.

This kind of research - also known as translational research - is usually carried out in a laboratory. The results from translational studies can tell researchers if a new treatment or test should be tried in people.

Translational researchers use the knowledge gained from research into basic cancer biology, taking discoveries made in the lab and shaping them into potential new treatments or diagnostic tests to benefit people with cancer. 

Find out more about our progress in drug discovery and drug development research, and read about our current research in this area.

The goal of clinical research is to develop more effective treatments for cancer. Clinical researchers try new combinations and doses of existing treatments to see if they work better than standard treatments (the ones that are already being used to treat patients).

Clinical researchers also use the information collected from translational research to develop new cancer treatments. Sometimes they might use this information to improve standard treatments as well.

Clinical research is carried out in hospitals and usually involves cancer patients. They take part in what is known as a clinical trial. The clinical trial tests a drug or medical procedure to see if it is a safe and beneficial treatment in one group of people and comparing it with standard treatment given to another group of people.

Many medicines and drugs work in laboratory tests. But they must be shown to be safe and effective for people before they can be approved by the regulatory authorities and given out by doctors.

Find out more about our progress in clinical research, and our current research into chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Behavioural and population research aims to identify the things that influence our chances, or risk, of getting cancer. If we understand what increases our risk of developing cancer, we should be able to find ways to reduce the risk and prevent cancers from occurring.

Behavioural research looks at how our behaviour can affect our chances of getting cancer. It tries to find out why people behave the way they do, why they sometimes behave in unhealthy ways and what motivates them to adopt more healthy behaviours.

Population research looks at how cancer affects the general population and aims to identify its causes. This type of research uses large-scale studies that involve thousands of people, looking for patterns (trends) in the incidence of different cancers. The large number of people involved make it easier to spot the factors that are associated with increased cancer incidence.

By combining behavioural and population research we can develop strategies for preventing cancer and promoting good health. Tobacco use, cancer screening, dietary behaviour and sun protection are some areas that have been investigated by these types of research.

One of our biggest population studies is EPIC - a Europe-wide project investigating the links between diet, lifestyle and cancer. More than half a million people are involved, and we are helping to fund the two UK arms of the study in Norfolk and Oxford. 

Watch a short video about EPIC:

Find out more about our research into diet and lifestyle and smoking.