NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – A new cancer research center that will emphasize science that delves into the molecular and genetic underpinnings of the disease was launched this week in Oxford, Cancer Research UK (CRUK) said.
The Oxford Cancer Research Centre, a partnership between CRUK, the University of Oxford, and the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, will receive £2.8 million ($4.5 million) in funding from CRUK in its first year.
The center will conduct research into the molecular basis of cancer, lead studies on the genetic and lifestyle factors that increase the risk of cancer, will discover biomarkers for predicting drug responses, and seek to improve cancer diagnostic technologies.
"The center will help bring together the extensive community of outstanding cancer researchers in Oxford, acting as a nucleus for researchers, doctors, and patients to engage with each other," University of Oxford's Alastair Buchan, head of the school's medical science division, said in a statement. "It will ensure optimal translation of fundamental research into patient benefit, and will train the next generation of world-leaders in cancer detection, treatment, and prevention."
The Oxford center is the sixteenth cancer center funded by CRUK, the non-profit organization said.
"Funding these centers of excellence is one of the charity's priorities and will enable us to work towards the goals we have set to improve the treatment and survival of cancer patients across all types of cancer," CRUK CEO Harpal Kumar said.