New world-class cancer centre to open in Manchester

11 Apr 2018

Manchester continues to lead the way in cancer research

An ambitious, world-class cancer research facility is to be built at The Christie on the site of the Paterson building which suffered devastating fire damage in April 2017 displacing over 300 scientists and support staff. 

It will integrate researchers and clinicians in a new state-of-the-art building, who will develop new ways to conduct team science approaches to accelerate the translation and adoption of research into the clinic. 

This approach will ensure that Manchester remains at the international forefront of research in this field - understanding and tackling the diversity and complexity of cancer to drive better outcomes for patients with the very latest discoveries and breakthroughs. 

The multi-million pound development will be led by The Christie on behalf of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC), an internationally renowned and hugely successful partnership between The Christie, The University of Manchester and Cancer Research UK.

The partners believe this exciting development embraces a great opportunity to transform the disaster of the Paterson building fire into a bold and exciting future. Detailed work to secure necessary formal approvals will be undertaken over the coming months. 

In addition to housing the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, the new development will be a major step forward in realising MCRC’s ambition of becoming one of the world’s top five centres for basic, translational and clinical cancer research. 

Manchester is already a world scientific lead in cancer biomarkers, the molecular targeting of cancer, early-phase clinical trials and cutting-edge radiotherapy, including the opening of one of only two NHS high energy proton beam therapy centres in the UK later this year. 

The new building will also harness the potential of healthcare research within a catchment area of three million people as part of the Greater Manchester Cancer plan (part of the health care devolution project in Greater Manchester) and Health Innovation Manchester. 

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, said: “The University already has a leading position in cancer research and a unique partnership with The Christie and Cancer Research UK. We are excited and proud to contribute our world-leading expertise to ensuring that Manchester is a global powerhouse of discovery research and treatment. The new building will be transformative and will be a magnet for attracting international researchers and building partnerships with other academic institutions and the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry.”