Cell lines

This statement was issued in response to BBC Radio Four's investigative programme, File on Four. The programme claimed that "Millions of pounds of charity donations and taxpayers' money have been wasted on worthless cancer studies."

Dr Lilian Clark, Cancer Research UK's executive director of science operations and funding, said:

"We are very surprised that File on Four is claiming that millions of pounds raised for cancer research are being wasted. That is most certainly not the experience of Cancer Research UK which has a strict process to minimise the risk of any mistake being made in our laboratories.

"It is of paramount importance for us to ensure that all our researchers deliver world class science - they have the latest systems and robust procedures in place to guarantee this. With regard to cell lines, all Cancer Research UK scientists have access to the charity's cell bank which provides a high quality, regulated central service. It offers 2000 authenticated cell lines. The checking procedures for this resource are stringent and these include cross species checks, a DNA authenticating service and a quarantine facility which can screen lines obtained from external agencies."