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Cancer centres join UK network
08/12/2003
Two Scottish Centres have been accepted as members of
the UK wide National Translational Cancer Research Network
(NTRAC) with the aim of improving cancer patients' access
to new treatments by bridging the gap between scientific
and clinical research.
One Centre will be based in Edinburgh, with a joint
centre in Glasgow and Dundee, and will receive a total of
£2.3 million of funding over 5 years from the Executive's
Chief Scientist Office.
NHS clinical research staff will work together with
scientists engaged in basic cancer research to help to
ensure that advances in basic science reach patients
faster.
Proposals for the Scottish centres include:
- In Edinburgh, developing a database of information
on patients with breast and colorectal cancer, in order
to increase recruitment to early clinical trials. The
data will be used to gain a better understanding of the
causes of cancer and how it can be prevented or
detected at an early stage
- The Glasgow/Dundee Centre will look at the effect
of new drug treatments alongside data on the properties
of various types of tumour, in order to find out how
different people respond to treatment
Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm said:
"Scotland has a reputation for excellence in both
scientific and clinical cancer research. Our participation
in this network will make it easier for the NHS to tap into
the valuable work that is already being carried out in
universities across Scotland and ensure that more patients
benefit from the latest scientific advances.
"It will also help to ensure that clinical trials make
use of the very latest advances from the laboratory and
improve the quality of research being carried out.
"I look forward to seeing these Centres work together to
ensure that Scotland remains at the forefront of developing
innovative research into the prevention, detection and
treatment of cancer."
NTRAC currently consists of 10 network centres in
England and centres in Belfast and Cardiff, drawn from
centres of excellence in cancer research.
It is part of the National Cancer Research Institute. A
coordinating centre has been established at the University
of Oxford which will provide the secretariat,
communications hub and professional support for the
network.
Each of the NTRAC centres has its own range of projects,
however there are several key technologies and cross
cutting programmes which provide the basis for
collaboration.
Some of the current work of NTRAC includes:
- Pharmacogenomics: The study of how an individual's
whole genetic makeup affects their response to
drugs
- Tests that will allow clinicians to better
determine who is at risk of cancer due to having a
particular form of a gene, diagnose what subtype of
cancer a patient has and select anti-cancer therapies
on an individual basis
- Development of new drug treatments
The Edinburgh Centre is a collaboration between Lothian
University Hospitals NHS Trust, the University of
Edinburgh, the MRC Human Genetics Trust and the Scottish
Cancer Registry.
Over 170 individuals are actively involved in cancer
research at the collaborating institutions. More
information about the Edinburgh Centre can be obtained from
Professor Malcolm Dunlop on 0131-467 8454 or
07904-100138
The Glasgow/Dundee Centre will consist of the Cancer
Research UK Beatson Laboratories, the University of Dundee
Medical School and the Beatson Oncology Centre and
Department of Pathology based at the Western Infirmary in
Glasgow.
The partners in the Centre host over 430 individuals
actively involved in research from PHD students to nurses
to consultants.
The National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) is a
partnership between Government, the voluntary sector and
the private sector. It was established on April 1, 2001.
Its aim is to streamline and accelerate the improvement of
cancer research in the UK by taking a strategic oversight,
identifying gaps in current research and opportunities for
development.
The National Cancer Research Network was established in
March 2002 and will receive £1m from the Executive. It aims
to increase the recruitment of patients to large scale
cancer trials.