Cancer Research UK Scotland Centre
The CRUK Scotland Centre is funded by Cancer Research UK and is a partnership between is a partnership between the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, MRC Human Genetics Unit, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, NHS Lothian, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
The Centre was established in April 2022 with a vision of bringing together the very best in cancer research from Edinburgh and Glasgow with the unifying mission to translate cutting-edge discoveries into promising therapeutic opportunities for the Scottish population. The Centre is led by Prof Charlie Gourley (Clinical Director) and Prof Owen Sansom (Scientific Director). Our research focuses on cancers that profoundly affect people in Scotland, and cancers in which we have a growing expertise. Collaborating across over 80 teams, we support research activities in both the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, including the Institute of Genetics and Cancer in Edinburgh and the School of Cancer Sciences and CRUK Beatson Institute in Glasgow.
Our scientists work closely with the Glasgow and Edinburgh Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres and CRUK Clinical Trials Unit and benefit from unprecedented access to the two largest cancer treatment centres for patients in Scotland, the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre and the Western General Hospital.
Our vision is to translate innovative, scientific findings into patient benefit. We draw on our considerable expertise in the biology of early disease, cancer metabolism, tumour microenvironment and metastasis. We aim to develop a translational pipeline where fundamental discoveries are fed through preclinical models and trials, and ultimately into the establishment of a clinical research programme. We invest in infrastructure in the local research space, boosting our scientific agenda, which is directed at six tumour-focused themes:
- Colorectal Cancer
- Hepatobiliary Cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Mesothelioma
- Brain Tumours
- Gynaecological Cancer
Underpinning these individual research strands, we have created an additional Data theme. Not only do we aspire to unlock the full potential of the vast datasets from Scottish cancer patients, spanning the whole cancer journey from screening and diagnosis to treatment – but our goal is to also provide infrastructure that enables the management and sharing of data across the Centre and beyond.