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Skin cancer research

<p>Skin cancers develop after the DNA (the genetic material) in our skin cells is damaged</p>Skin cancer is very common in the UK. In 2007 more than 84,000 cases of non-melanoma skin cancer were registered, but it is estimated that the actual number of new cases each year is at least 100,000. Every year more than 11,700 people in the UK are diagnosed with malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, and it claims more than 2,000 lives.

Cancer Research UK is the largest funder of skin cancer research in the UK. Our broad research programme ranges from uncovering the causes of the disease to developing new treatments for patients. And we are heavily involved in raising public awareness of skin cancer through our national SunSmart campaign.

We also provide information for people affected by skin cancer on our CancerHelp website.

Below are some highlights of our skin cancer research portfolio. Visit MyProjects to donate directly to our research into skin cancer. 

Or find out more on our skin cancer briefsheet.

On this page

 

Cancer biology

Prof Fiona Watt Prof Fiona Watt

Centre for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research

King's College London, London

Getting under the skin

Professor Fiona Watt is director of the Centre for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research at King's College, where she is studying normal skin cells in order to understand what goes wrong in skin cancer. In particular, she is carrying out pioneering research into skin stem cells. These long-lived cells can multiply to produce many different types of skin cell and are believed to play a central role in the development of skin cancer.

 

Cancer genes

Prof Tim Bishop Prof Tim Bishop

Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory

St James's University Hospital, Leeds

Finding cancer genes

Professor Tim Bishop, head of the Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory in Leeds, is a leader in the field of cancer genetics. He is studying the genes involved in several types of cancer including melanoma skin cancer. 

Prof Julia Newton-Bishop Prof Julia Newton-Bishop

Section of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine,

St James's Hospital/University of Leeds, Leeds

Finding skin cancer genes

Professor Julia Newton-Bishop works in the Section of Biostatistics and Epidemiology of the Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine. She studies people with family histories of melanoma - the most dangerous form of skin cancer - and has made many significant discoveries.

 

Cell signalling

Prof Irene Leigh Prof Irene Leigh

Cancer Research UK Skin Tumour Laboratory

The University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee

Understanding the development of skin cancer

Professor Irene Leigh is an expert in the biology and causes of non-melanoma skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the UK. Her work is uncovering how this cancer develops, leading to new ways to prevent and treat the disease.

Prof Richard Marais Prof Richard Marais

Section of Cell and Molecular Biology

Institute of Cancer Research, London

Cell signalling and melanoma skin cancer

Professor Richard Marais leads the Signal Transduction Team at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR). He is an expert in the underlying causes of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. His team is looking at how cells communicate with one another and how faults in these messages can cause this disease, with a particular focus on the BRAF protein.

 

Clinical trials

Dr Fiona Bath-Hextall Dr Fiona Bath-Hextall

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

University of Nottingham, Nottingham

Finding the best treatment for basal cell skin cancer

Based at the University of Nottingham, Dr Fiona Bath-Hextall is running a clinical trial called SINS, testing whether a cream called imiquimod or surgery is best for treating basal cell skin cancer.

Professor Mark Middleton Professor Mark Middleton

University of Oxford

Churchill Hospital, Oxford

Melanoma: cracking the code

Professor Mark Middleton is working on melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. He is based at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford where he is running several clinical trials testing new ways to treat the disease.

 

Genes

Prof Richard Marais Prof Richard Marais

Section of Cell and Molecular Biology

Institute of Cancer Research, London

Cell signalling and melanoma skin cancer

Professor Richard Marais leads the Signal Transduction Team at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR). He is an expert in the underlying causes of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. His team is looking at how cells communicate with one another and how faults in these messages can cause this disease, with a particular focus on the BRAF protein.

 

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Prof Irene Leigh Prof Irene Leigh

Cancer Research UK Skin Tumour Laboratory

The University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee

Understanding the development of skin cancer

Professor Irene Leigh is an expert in the biology and causes of non-melanoma skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the UK. Her work is uncovering how this cancer develops, leading to new ways to prevent and treat the disease.

Prof Alan Storey Prof Alan Storey

HPV Apoptosis and Cancer Group

Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford

HPV infection and non-melanoma skin cancer

Professor Alan Storey leads the HPV Apoptosis and Cancer Group at the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine. His research focuses on non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK. Although NMSC is rarely life-threatening, it is estimated that there are at least 100,000 cases in the UK each year making it a significant public health problem. Professor Storey's team is investigating how human papillomavirus (HPV) infection of the skin can contribute to the development of this disease.

 

Stem cells

Prof Fiona Watt Prof Fiona Watt

Centre for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research

King's College London, London

Getting under the skin

Professor Fiona Watt is director of the Centre for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research at King's College, where she is studying normal skin cells in order to understand what goes wrong in skin cancer. In particular, she is carrying out pioneering research into skin stem cells. These long-lived cells can multiply to produce many different types of skin cell and are believed to play a central role in the development of skin cancer.

 

Sun & UV

Prof Julia Newton-Bishop Prof Julia Newton-Bishop

Section of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine,

St James's Hospital/University of Leeds, Leeds

Finding skin cancer genes

Professor Julia Newton-Bishop works in the Section of Biostatistics and Epidemiology of the Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine. She studies people with family histories of melanoma - the most dangerous form of skin cancer - and has made many significant discoveries.

 

Viruses

Dr Robert Newton Dr Robert Newton

Epidemiology and Genetics Unit, Department of Health Sciences

University of York, York

Investigating the role of viruses in cancer

Dr Newton's research focuses on how infections, in particular by viruses, play a role in cancer development. It is estimated that one in five cancers are caused by infections - for example skin cancer and cervical cancer can be caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) .