Cancer research at Glasgow

1.1 Background

London Economics were commissioned to assess the economic impact of the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute (formerly Beatson Institute) and the University of Glasgow’s School of Cancer Sciences (SCS) in the United Kingdom, incorporating an assessment of their contribution to the UK’s national prosperity through their wide-ranging cancer research activities, their operating and capital expenditures, and their teaching and learning activities. Working in close collaboration, the CRUK Scotland Institute and the University of Glasgow constitute the core cancer research institutions in the West of Scotland. This work builds on our previous analysis of the economic impact of the University of Glasgow as a whole (London Economics, 2021), and focuses on the 2021-22 financial year.⁹

For over a century, cancer sciences have been a significant part of the fabric of Glasgow’s research ecosystem. From the establishment of the Glasgow Cancer and Skin Hospital in 1886 until the present day, Glasgow has been at the heart of the global effort to further our understanding of cancer, developing new ideas, techniques, and practices and delivering benefits to patients across Scotland and beyond. The contribution of these advances to our collective understanding of cancer has led to improvements in the identification and treatment of the disease and declining cancer mortality rates. However, despite this progress, cancer remains the largest burden of disease across Scotland, and incidence rates have continued to increase over time. In 2021, there were over 35,000 new cancer diagnoses registered in Scotland (Public Health Scotland, 2023), and this is projected to increase in the future as the country’s population ages. This is a particular issue for the West of Scotland, with Greater Glasgow and Clyde exhibiting the highest cancer incidence of any health board in Scotland in 2021, with 702 cancers¹⁰ per 100,000 residents (see Figure 1).

Studies also show that the burden of cancer is not the same for all groups in society. Data referenced in the Scottish Government’s 2023 Cancer Strategy (Scottish Government, 2023) highlights the disproportionate impact of socioeconomic deprivation on cancer incidence and survival rates. The data shows that a person living in the most deprived areas of Scotland is 30% more likely to develop cancer than someone living in the least deprived areas, and 74% more likely to die from cancer compared with the least deprived. Scotland also has a relatively unique geography, as it encompasses large urban centres, rural areas, and island communities. As the Scottish Government’s strategy highlights, this poses additional challenges for Scotland in ensuring that patients across the country benefit equitably from advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Figure 3 Cancer incidence in Scotland by Scottish Health Board, in 2021

Note: Cancer incidence refers to the European age-standardised rate for all cancers excluding non-melanoma skin cancer.

Source: London Economics’ analysis based on Public Health Scotland (2023) data. Copyright Scottish Government, contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right (2023).

This diversity of need and diversity of patient base has resulted in an emergence of different strengths in cancer sciences across Scotland’s regions. This is reflected in the development of different research specialisms across Scotland’s world-class universities, such as remote and rural medicine, drug discovery and precision medicine, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies. Glasgow serves as a key example of the benefits of the development of different cancer research specialisms that derive from local needs, challenges, and strengths.

As Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow and the surrounding areas in the West of Scotland account for a patient base of around 2.8 million patients (Invest Scotland, 2023), which represents more than half of the Scottish population. The city is home to the largest health board in Scotland and the largest cancer centre – the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre – which sees more than 8,500 new patients and over 60,000 return patients every year (Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, 2023). The size of the patient base in the region serves as an ideal location from which to undertake clinical trials and test prevention strategies for cancer and other chronic diseases.

As well as its size, the health needs and prevalence of disease within the region’s population base are complex, with longstanding health disparities and comparatively high incidence of chronic diseases. Glasgow’s industrial heritage has also left a mark in terms of the prevalence of certain types of cancer within the region. The West of Scotland has some of the highest incidence rates of malignant mesothelioma in the world, due to the previous widespread use of asbestos in key industrial sectors such as shipbuilding. Unfortunately, current treatment options are limited, and those diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma have very poor survival rates. Academics and clinicians in Glasgow have been central to efforts to change this situation and play a leading role in several national and international networks and projects aimed at developing more effective treatment options. For example, Glasgow’s REMIT programme, which builds on the University‘s PREDICT-Meso & IAMMED-Meso projects, is seeking to develop a comprehensive strategy for early detection, risk stratification and more effective treatments for mesothelioma patients, and received a portion of £2.1 million of funding from Cancer Research UK in March 2023. This serves as a key example of how a particular need has spawned world-leading academic and clinical expertise that is rooted in the West of Scotland.

The patient base in the West of Scotland is also differentiated by its high level of engagement with local cancer research initiatives. Research groups from the University of Glasgow’s School of Cancer Sciences and the CRUK Scotland Institute are well-integrated within the region’s hospitals and with local patient groups, thus supporting the rapid translation of scientific research into clinical settings. Local residents have also provided generous donations to cancer sciences research, to ensure that the legacy of this work continues to benefit the city’s residents, for example through the Beatson Pebble Appeal which generated £10M in public donations to build the University’s Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre. This level of engagement has served as a key differentiator of the region’s approach to cancer sciences and plays an important role in attracting some of the world’s leading cancer researchers to work in Glasgow.

As this report highlights, Glasgow’s strengths in, and approach to, cancer sciences provide a range of benefits to the region’s economy. Healthcare and precision medicine were highlighted in the Glasgow City Region Economic Strategy (Glasgow City Region, 2021) as core areas of comparative advantage for the region, with strong potential for future growth through the use of advanced technology within healthcare. This was further exemplified by the awarding of Levelling Up Innovation Accelerator funding to a bowel cancer screening and risk stratification tool, highlighting the potential for the region’s expertise in cancer sciences to further accelerate its flourishing innovation economy. Moreover, a number of major MedTech, pharmaceutical and healthcare companies have based themselves within the region to better integrate with the thriving life sciences ecosystem built within the Glasgow Riverside Innovation District.

Cancer remains one of the biggest health challenges facing Scotland, and the evidence suggests that this will remain the case in the future. However, Scotland’s leading role in life sciences and health innovation provides hope that this is a challenge that can be tackled collectively. This is signalled by the willingness of major players in this sphere to collaborate to drive benefits for patients. The University of Glasgow, for example, works closely with the NHS and its major industry partners, such as GE Healthcare, on innovative, people-centred solutions to improve healthcare treatment and outcomes. This approach is in evidence across different parts of the country, which have developed expertise and specialisms that reflect the particular needs of, and challenges faced by, local patient bases. As the West of Scotland's core cancer research institutions, together, the CRUK Scotland Institute and the SCS constitute two key drivers of Scotland’s leadership in cancer sciences.