Published: 16 January 2023
The NIHR is contributing £21.6 million to the network of Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres (ECMCs) part of £47.5 million over the next 5 years.
Established in 2007, the ECMC network is a partnership between a number of organisations including:
- NIHR
- Cancer Research UK
- the Little Princess Trust
- the Chief Scientist's Office in Scotland
- Health and Care Research Wales
- Northern Ireland's HSC Public Health Agency
Over the last sixteen years, it has delivered 2,100 clinical trials of promising new cancer treatments. Each centre has unique and world-leading expertise within early phase clinical research.
£40.8 million will support clinical trials at 17 adult ECMCs distributed across the UK.
£6.6 million will fund clinical trials at 12 children's ECMCs in England, Scotland and Wales.
Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Executive of the NIHR, said “The ECMC Network is a vital strategic investment in the UK's cancer research community, bringing together top scientists and clinicians to tackle some of the biggest scientific challenges in cancer and improve outcomes for patients.
“Through this route, we enable more people to join trials that could help them. The ECMC Network will give access to brand new experimental treatments for patients, including children and young people, paving the way for these treatments to be used in the clinic one day. This is a crucial part of NIHR's work, and enables more people to join trials that might help them. We are proud to be partnering with Cancer Research UK and the Little Princess Trust in funding this network.
“The UK has considerable strengths in cancer research. We will continue to back life-saving research for the thousands of adult and children patients affected by cancer every year.”
Minister of State for Health, Helen Whately, said: “A cancer diagnosis can be devastating but the earlier the diagnosis, the better the chance to treat it and beat it. We are already picking up more cancers early by screening but we can do even better.
“This partnership between Cancer Research UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Research and the Little Princess Trust will fund innovative trials that could lead to new life-saving treatments.
"Every life lost to cancer is devastating and I'm pleased that across the country, people will be given renewed hope - especially children and young people - that we can beat this awful disease.”
Adult Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres
- Belfast
- Birmingham
- Cambridge
- Cardiff
- Edinburgh
- Glasgow
- Leicester
- Liverpool
- Manchester
- Newcastle
- Oxford
- Southampton
London
- Barts
- Imperial
- King's
- University College London
- Joint centre the Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden
Children's Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres
- Birmingham
- Bristol
- Cambridge
- Cardiff
- Glasgow
- Liverpool
- London
- Manchester
- Newcastle
- Southampton
London
- The Institute of Cancer Research
- A joint centre between University College London and Great Ormond Street Hospital