Our research in Cambridge
Together with the University of Cambridge and many generous donors, we opened The Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute (CRI) in 2007. The Institute, at the Addenbrooke’s Hospital site, is one of the largest cancer research facilities in Europe.
Cancer Research UK has given substantial funding to equip the Institute and provides around £20 million each year to support research at this state-of-the-art facility.
The Institute, which is directed by Professor Bruce Ponder, houses more than 240 scientists in 19 research groups. The CRI brings together doctors and scientists with a broad range of expertise to help beat cancer. More than 4,000 cancer patients pass through the doors of Addenbrooke’s Hospital every year. Being located on the site of a major cancer hospital will ensure that laboratory advances are translated into tangible benefits for patients as quickly as possible.
Cambridge is also the home of one of our Cancer Research UK Centres. The Cambridge Cancer Centre brings together leading scientists, doctors and nurses from across the city to lead improvements in cancer diagnosis and treatment. In particular, researchers are building on their expertise in breast, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, oesophageal, blood and prostate cancers. The Centre also focuses on developing new ways to detect cancer using cutting-edge imaging techniques.
Below are some of the highlights of our research in Cambridge. Visit MyProjects to donate directly to our research in the city.
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Bowel cancer
Dr Doug Winton
Stem Cell Biology of the Intestine Group
Cambridge Research Institute, Cambridge
Studying stem cells in bowel cancer
Dr Doug Winton runs a research group at our Cambridge Research Institute. He and his team are investigating how stem cells can fuel the growth of bowel cancer.
Breast cancer
Prof Carlos Caldas
Breast cancer functional genomics
Cambridge Research Institute, Cambridge
How damaged genes can cause breast cancer
At our prestigious Cambridge Research Institute, Professor Carlos Caldas is leading a team that aims to identify some of the genes that go wrong when a woman develops breast cancer. To achieve this they are screening thousands of tissue samples.
Dr Jason Carroll
Nuclear Receptor Transcription Laboratory
Cambridge Research Institute, Cambridge
Breast cancer: the yin and yang of oestrogen and tamoxifen
Dr Jason Carroll based at our Cambridge Research Institute is exploring the role of the oestrogen receptor (ER) in breast cancer development and treatment. In particular, he is studying how the hormone oestrogen fuels the growth of breast cancer cells by binding to the ER. And his work is focusing on how tamoxifen, a commonly used breast cancer drug, works by blocking the ER. This pioneering work is providing important insights into how some breast cancers become resistant to treatment.
Prof Doug Easton
Cancer Research UK Genetic Epidemiology Group
University of Cambridge, Cambridge
Hunting cancer susceptibility genes
Professor Douglas Easton is director of the Cancer Research UK Genetic Epidemiology Group at the University of Cambridge. He is world-renowned for his research into genes that affect our risk of common cancers, particularly breast cancer. His team also works on ovarian and prostate cancer, and melanoma. Their findings will help identify high-risk individuals and could lead to new ways of preventing, diagnosing and treating the disease in the future.
Dr Paul Pharoah
Department of Oncology, Strangeways Laboratories
University of Cambridge, Cambridge
Genetic variation and cancer risk
Dr Paul Pharoah works at the University of Cambridge, studying how a person's genes, lifestyle and environment interact to determine their cancer risk. In particular, Dr Pharoah is hoping to identify small genetic differences that may affect a person's risk of breast cancer or how they will respond to treatment. He is also investigating the genes and risk factors involved in ovarian cancer.
Prof Bruce Ponder
Cancer Research UK Human Cancer Genetics Research Group
Cambridge Research Institute, Cambridge
Hunting cancer genes
Professor Sir Bruce Ponder is Director and Professor of Oncology at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute. He is world-renowned for his pioneering research into discovering genes that affect our risk of common cancers, particularly breast cancer. He is also investigating the genetics of oesophageal cancer.
Dr John Stingl
Mammary Stem Cell Laboratory
Cambridge Research Institute, Cambridge
Studying stem cells in breast cancer
Dr John Stingl runs the Mammary Stem Cell Laboratory at our Cambridge Research Institute. His team is studying stem cells that fuel the growth of breast cancer. Understanding these elusive cells will lead to more effective treatments for this disease in the future.
Kidney cancer
Prof Tim Eisen
Department of Oncology, Addenbrooke's Hospital
University of Cambridge, Cambridge
Finding new ways to prevent and treat cancer
Professor Tim Eisen, based at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, is one of the leading cancer doctors in the UK. He oversees a broad spectrum of research ranging from work on cancer genetics through to studies in the clinic. As Director of the Cambridge Cancer Trials Centre, he co-ordinates many early and late-stage clinical trials testing new treatments for different types of cancer. Much of his work focuses on kidney cancer, lung cancer and melanoma.
Lung cancer
Prof Tim Eisen
Department of Oncology, Addenbrooke's Hospital
University of Cambridge, Cambridge
Finding new ways to prevent and treat cancer
Professor Tim Eisen, based at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, is one of the leading cancer doctors in the UK. He oversees a broad spectrum of research ranging from work on cancer genetics through to studies in the clinic. As Director of the Cambridge Cancer Trials Centre, he co-ordinates many early and late-stage clinical trials testing new treatments for different types of cancer. Much of his work focuses on kidney cancer, lung cancer and melanoma.
No specific cancer type
Professor Shankar Balasubramanian
Chemical Biology Laboratory
Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute, Cambridge
Solving molecular puzzles
Professor Shankar Balasubramanian is based at our Cambridge Research Institute, where he is investigating some of the genes and molecules that play an important role in cancer.
Prof Kevin Brindle
Molecular Imaging Group
Cambridge Research Institute, Cambridge
Magnetic resonance imaging - a tool to monitor the success of cancer treatments
Professor Kevin Brindle based at our Cambridge Research Institute is a leading expert in the field of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). He is at the forefront of developing this technology so that it can be used to monitor how well cancer patients are responding to treatment. This has the potential to revolutionise the way researchers test new cancer drugs in clinical trials. It may also help doctors to establish which treatment works best for each individual patient.
Professor Gerard Evan
Department of Biochemistry
University of Cambridge, Cambridge
Investigating cancer genes
Professor Gerard Evan is one of the world’s foremost experts in oncogenes – the genes that drive the development of cancer. Over the years he has played a vital role in identifying some of these genes, and revealing how they fuel the disease.
Professor David Glover
Department of Genetics
University of Cambridge, Cambridge
Building the scaffolding for cell division
Professor David Glover is an expert in cell division - the process by which new cells are made. Over the years, he has discovered a number of important proteins that play a vital role in forming the ‘scaffolding’ that cells build in order to help them divide. He and his team are studying how these proteins work, using their knowledge to develop potential new treatments for cancer.
Professor John Griffiths
Molecular Imaging Laboratory
Cambridge Research Institute, Cambridge
Spying on cancer
Professor John Griffiths is an international expert in cancer imaging, using the latest technology to see tumours growing and spreading within the body. His research is enabling doctors to measure the effectiveness of new cancer drugs, and paving the way for earlier diagnosis of the disease.
Prof Steve Jackson
The Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute of Cancer and Developmental Biology
University of Cambridge, Cambridge
Understanding DNA repair
Professor Steve Jackson is an award-winning scientist, who has been funded by Cancer Research UK for over 15 years. He is Head of Cancer Research UK Laboratories at the Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, where he leads a research team making incredible progress in understanding the important role of DNA repair and its link with cancer. Some of Professor Jackson's discoveries have already been developed into new treatments for cancer, and others are being tested in clinical trials.
Prof Duncan Jodrell
Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute
University of Cambridge, Cambridge
Improving cancer treatments
Professor Duncan Jodrell is Professor of Cancer Therapeutics at the University of Cambridge. Professor Jodrell and his team are turning lab into improved treatments for a range of different cancers, including pancreatic cancer.
Prof Kay-Tee Khaw
Clinical Gerontology Unit
University of Cambridge, Cambridge
Diet, lifestyle and cancer - the EPIC study
Professor Kay-Tee Khaw is a leading expert in the field of health and disease. She is studying the links between lifestyle and the development of chronic diseases such as cancer. She is currently one of the principal UK scientists working on the EPIC study, a European-wide project investigating the links between diet, lifestyle and cancer.
Prof Tony Kouzarides
Department of Pathology
Gurdon Institute of Cancer and Developmental Biology, Cambridge
Throwing the switch: turning cancer genes on and off
Professor Tony Kouzarides and his team at The Gurdon Institute are studying how genes are switched on and off in healthy cells, and why this goes wrong in cancer.
Prof Ron Laskey
Cancer Cell Unit
Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Cambridge
Detecting cancer by understanding how cells divide
Professor Ron Laskey is Honorary Director of the MRC Cancer Cell Unit at the Hutchison/MRC Research Centre in Cambridge. He is world-renowned for his research into understanding how DNA is copied inside cells - a fundamental process in normal and cancer cells. In July 2009, Professor Laskey was awarded the Royal Medal by the Royal Society for his pivotal contributions in this field. The results of his research are laying the foundations for developing new ways to detect cancer.
Dr Eric Miska
Gurdon Institute
University of Cambridge, Cambridge
Micro RNAs - tiny molecules with a big impact
Dr Eric Miska is at the Gurdon Institute in Cambridge. His cutting-edge research focuses on tiny molecules in our cells called micro RNAs. These molecules play a key role in controlling cell behaviour, and Dr Miska is finding out how they can contribute to cancer.
Dr Duncan Odom
Regulatory Systems Biology Laboratory
Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute, Cambridge
Reading the cell’s ‘instruction manual’
Dr Duncan Odom works at our Cambridge Research Institute. His research is uncovering how genes are switched on and off inside cells, and how this crucial process goes wrong in cancer.
Oesophageal cancer
Dr Rebecca Fitzgerald
MRC Cancer Cell Unit
University of Cambridge, Cambridge
Can a sponge help to prevent oesophageal cancer?
Dr Rebecca Fitzgerald from the University of Cambridge is leading a trial of a new screening test to detect a condition called Barrett’s oesophagus, which increases the risk of oesophageal (foodpipe) cancer. The new test could identify people who need treatment to remove any pre-cancerous cells, helping to prevent them from developing the disease in the first place.
Prof Bruce Ponder
Cancer Research UK Human Cancer Genetics Research Group
Cambridge Research Institute, Cambridge
Hunting cancer genes
Professor Sir Bruce Ponder is Director and Professor of Oncology at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute. He is world-renowned for his pioneering research into discovering genes that affect our risk of common cancers, particularly breast cancer. He is also investigating the genetics of oesophageal cancer.
Ovarian cancer
Dr James Brenton
Functional Genomics of Ovarian Cancer
Cambridge Research Institute, Cambridge
Finding new ways to overcome drug resistance in ovarian cancer
Dr James Brenton is based at our Cambridge Research Institute. He is studying why cancer treatments work for some people and not others even though they have the same disease. His research particularly focuses on ovarian cancer and understanding why some women respond well to existing chemotherapy drugs while others have tumours that are 'resistant' to treatment.
Dr Paul Pharoah
Department of Oncology, Strangeways Laboratories
University of Cambridge, Cambridge
Genetic variation and cancer risk
Dr Paul Pharoah works at the University of Cambridge, studying how a person's genes, lifestyle and environment interact to determine their cancer risk. In particular, Dr Pharoah is hoping to identify small genetic differences that may affect a person's risk of breast cancer or how they will respond to treatment. He is also investigating the genes and risk factors involved in ovarian cancer.
Pancreatic cancer
Prof Duncan Jodrell
Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute
University of Cambridge, Cambridge
Improving cancer treatments
Professor Duncan Jodrell is Professor of Cancer Therapeutics at the University of Cambridge. Professor Jodrell and his team are turning lab into improved treatments for a range of different cancers, including pancreatic cancer.
Dr David Tuveson
Tumour Modelling & Experimental Medicine
Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute, Cambridge
New ways to treat pancreatic cancer
Dr David Tuveson is a leading expert investigating the biology and treatment of pancreatic cancer. He is and his team at Cancer Research UK’s Cambridge Research Institute are using the latest genetic techniques to find new ways to treat the disease. Pancreatic cancer has been recognised by Cancer Research UK as an area that urgently needs more research, and Dr Tuveson’s work will help to meet our goal of improving survival.
Prostate cancer
Prof Doug Easton
Cancer Research UK Genetic Epidemiology Group
University of Cambridge, Cambridge
Hunting cancer susceptibility genes
Professor Douglas Easton is director of the Cancer Research UK Genetic Epidemiology Group at the University of Cambridge. He is world-renowned for his research into genes that affect our risk of common cancers, particularly breast cancer. His team also works on ovarian and prostate cancer, and melanoma. Their findings will help identify high-risk individuals and could lead to new ways of preventing, diagnosing and treating the disease in the future.
Prof David Neal
Oncology Department, Addenbrooke's Hospital
University of Cambridge, Cambridge
Better screening and treatment for prostate cancer
Professor David Neal is surgeon and a leading expert on prostate cancer. He and his colleagues in Cambridge are taking a number of different approaches in their work to beat this disease. A particular focus for the team is identifying better ways of distinguishing aggressive cancers from non-aggressive cancers in order to target treatment to the right group of men. Professor Neal is also investigating the genes involved in prostate and bladder cancer.
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