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Our research in Newcastle Upon Tyne

UK map showing NewcastleNewcastle is the home of one of our Cancer Research UK Centres. The Newcastle Centre is helping set the pace for national and international progress in diagnosing and treating cancer, specialising in cancers of the blood in adults and children. The Centre is jointly funded by Cancer Research UK and the North of England Children’s Cancer Research Fund.

Researchers at the Centre are investigating the basic biology of how and why cancers develop so new drugs can be designed. Another priority is personalised medicine, where instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, treatments are tailored to individual cancer patients' needs. This avoids unnecessary side effects and improves survival rates.

The Northern Institute for Cancer Research

Herbie buildingThe Northern Institute for Cancer Research (NICR) brings together many internationally renowned specialists in cancer research and drug development, and is directed by Professor Andy Hall.

By sharing their experience and expertise, scientists are able to fast-track pioneering new treatments from the lab bench to patients.

The Institute is housed in the purpose-built Paul O’Gorman building, which is named after a 14-year-old boy who lost his life to leukaemia.

The Cancer Research UK Developmental Therapeutics Unit at the Institute is an international centre for anti-cancer drug development. Here, novel treatments can be taken right through from design in the laboratory to evaluation in the clinic, so promising new treatments can benefit patients.

Below are some of the highlights of our research in Newcastle, or you can find out more in our 
North East leaflet (pdf download).

On this page

 

Lung cancer

Dr Paula Mulvenna Dr Paula Mulvenna

Northern Centre for Cancer Care

Freeman Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

A clinical trial for lung cancer that has spread to the brain

Dr Paula Mulvenna is a consultant clinical oncologist who specialises in improving the quality of life for people who have cancer that cannot be cured. She is based at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne. Dr Mulvenna is co-ordinating a unique national clinical trial called Quartz, funded by Cancer Research UK. This trial is for people with non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has spread to the brain.

 

No specific cancer type

Dr Helen Arthur Dr Helen Arthur

Molecular Cardiovascular Medicine Group

Institute of Human Genetics, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Turning off the blood supply to tumours

Dr Helen Arthur works at the Institute of Human Genetics in Newcastle. She is studying a protein called endoglin, which helps tumours to grow a blood supply. This process, known as angiogenesis, is an essential part of the growth and spread of cancer. Finding a way to block this protein could lead to future cancer treatments.

Prof Herbie Newell Prof Herbie Newell

Northern Institute for Cancer Research

University of Newcastle, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Developing new cancer treatments

Herbie Newell is Professor of Cancer Therapeutics at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research in Newcastle upon Tyne. His expertise is in cancer pharmacology - understanding how cancer drugs work inside the body. His research focuses on developing new cancer drugs and he has over 30 years experience in this area.