Cancer

This Theme’s Focus

Early Detection and Diagnosis
Integrated Cancer Medicine
New treatments and trials

In the UK, 1 in 2 people born after 1960 will be diagnosed with some form of cancer during their lifetime. Although diagnosis and treatment is improving, every year 167,000 people die of cancer in the UK.

The NHS Long-Term Plan wants to find ways to diagnose and treat cancer earlier and more precisely, so that 55,000 more people each year are able to survive cancer for more than 5 years following their diagnosis. Delivering this goal will be challenging. It will require collaboration between scientists, industry partners and the NHS to develop new ways to detect tumours, discover new therapies, and deploy new technologies, such as genomic medicine, artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) to create more efficient and precise treatment pathways for people with cancer.

The Cancer theme is based within the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre. We unite more than 1000 world-leading biologists, chemists, physicists, engineers, mathematicians, computer scientists, social scientists, clinicians, nurses and allied healthcare professionals across Cambridge to tackle cancer from every angle.

Our mission is to end death and disease caused by cancer through research, treatment and education.

We are detecting cancer at its earliest stage and developing personalised treatments for every patient, by facilitating new collaborations and driving the translation of new scientific discoveries into clinical applications to improve patient care. By working together across a range of different disciplines, our members are breaking down the barriers between the laboratory and the clinic, enabling patients to benefit from the latest innovations in cancer science.

In partnership with Addenbrooke’s and the University of Cambridge we are developing a new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital to connect outstanding clinical expertise with world-class science and commercial innovation. We are creating a template for embedding early diagnosis and personalised treatment of cancer across the NHS.

Our research is enabled and enhanced by our thriving Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) group that meets regularly to review and advise all subtheme research. Patient members are included on trial steering committees and have been integral to the design of our new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital.

Theme Leads

Professor Jean Abraham

Professor of Precision Breast Cancer Medicine
Email: ja344@medschl.cam.ac.uk

Professor Brian Huntly

Professor of Leukaemia Stem Cell Biology

Email: bjph2@cam.ac.uk

Meet our researchers

Theme Lead

Professor Jean Abraham

Professor of Precision Breast Cancer Medicine.
Email: ja344@medschl.cam.ac.uk

Meet our researchers

The Cancer theme is addressing these national challenges and ambitions by finding new ways for:

Early Detection

Understanding early cancer biology, creating new diagnostics, and developing cancer risk prediction tools to diagnose cancer earlier and identify ways to treat it with less-invasive and more cost-effective treatments.

Integrated Cancer Medicine

Developing ways to acquire, curate and integrate massive patient datasets using artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) approaches to improve real-time clinical decision-making.

New Treatments and Trials

Better use of existing treatments, including de-escalating therapy where safe and appropriate, and inventing new treatments by translating drug discoveries into clinical trials.

Credit: Photos from Cancer Research UK

Latest News

Landmark ‘Pill-On-A-Thread’ cancer screening trial welcomes first participants

November 28, 2024

A pivotal clinical trial of a ‘pill-on-a-thread’ test, which will decide if it becomes a new screening programme for oesophageal cancer, has welcomed its first participant.

Breast screening - NIHR Cambridge BRC image

Study highlights increased risk of second cancers among breast cancer survivors

April 25, 2024

Socioeconomic deprivation linked to greater risk of second cancers among breast cancer survivors.

Photo of Aditi Vedi - a lady with her hair tied up wearing a navy top with blue spots

Paediatric cancers: a researcher’s quest to find answers

December 12, 2023

Clinician, researcher, teacher, mother: it’s exhausting just…

Professor Charlotte Coles receives top honour from Royal College of Radiologists

September 19, 2023

Congratulations to NIHR Cambridge BRC cancer researcher Professor…

Blood sample being placed in centrifuge - NIHR Cambridge BRC image

Major funding for Cambridge will help find new cancer treatments

January 23, 2023

Around £3 million has been awarded to clinicians and scientists in Cambridge to support cancer research and find new treatments.

Prostate cancer awareness ribbon - Image by Marijana from Pixabay

Cambridge researchers develop safe, affordable device for prostate cancer diagnosis

November 15, 2022

A new medical device developed at Addenbrooke’s and supported…

Kidney graphic: Lifetime use purchased through Abode Stock.

Research reveals how genetic mutations cause kidney cancer

June 21, 2022

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have shown that genetic…

Funding boost for ‘sponge on a string’ trial

April 28, 2022

Millions of pounds in funding has been announced for a trial that could pave the way for a ‘sponge on a string’ test to be established as a routine screening programme to detect Barrett’s oesophagus – a condition that can lead to oesophageal cancer.

Genomics lab reading samples on the screen - NIHR Cambridge BRC image

Children with cancer benefit from whole genome sequencing

April 25, 2022

More than 100 children with cancer from across the East of England have had their tumours tested by whole genome sequencing to help improve their diagnosis and treatment.

Woman patient clutching rubber earth. Image by Vince from Pixabay.

Personalised blood test can detect persistent lung cancer

March 17, 2022

Patients who are at a higher risk of their lung cancer returning can be identified by a personalised blood test that is performed after treatment, according to new research.

Man holding his chest - by Pexels from Pixabay

Cancer drug gives hope in treating heart attacks

January 31, 2022

Cambridge researchers have found a drug used to treat cancer could help with heart attack recovery.

Could a cancer drug be key to helping patients recover from a heart attack?

October 7, 2021

A trial is underway in Cambridge to investigate whether a cancer drug could improve the recovery of heart attack patients, by targeting the immune system.

Journey of the Capsule Sponge

September 24, 2021

How does an idea for a new diagnostic test become a reality? Follow the journey of the cytosponge or ’pill on a string’, a revolutionary new test to detect Barrett’s oesophagus.

Previous Next

Cancer Case Studies

Looking at lung cancer without surgery

October 16, 2024

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death.…

Detecting cancer with a ‘pill on a string’

October 16, 2024

Some people who have long-term symptoms of heartburn or acid…

New device could improve safety of routine testing for prostate cancer

October 16, 2024

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK,…

image of tool to help predict prostate troubles

Evidence-based web tool aims to help inform treatment options in early prostate cancer

October 16, 2024

A new tool to predict an overall survival estimate for men…

Cancer treatment could save millions

October 16, 2024

Women with early stage HER2-positive breast cancer typically…

Patient on the NIHR supported PAN trial - image Owlstone Medical Ltd

Can a simple breath test detect cancer?

October 16, 2024

In a first-of-its kind, Cambridge researchers are working…

Cambridge GPs launch ‘pill on a string’ cancer check

October 16, 2024

A Cambridge device to spot early signs of cancer is being…

New study to test personalised breast cancer screening

October 16, 2024

A new international trial will investigate whether a personalised…

NICE prostate guidelines updated based on Cambridge research

October 16, 2024

A Cambridge developed model to risk-categorise prostate cancer…

Thyroid Function and Dysfunction in Relation to 16 Cardiovascular Diseases

January 31, 2019

Publication: Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine. Larsson…

Previous Next

Cancer Publications

Surgery for pineal cysts with symptoms in the absence of hydrocephalus: a prospective cohort study

September 24, 2025

Quantitative 23Na magnetic resonance imaging in the abdomen at 3 T

June 3, 2024

Risks of second primary cancers among 584,965 female and male breast cancer survivors in England: a 25-year retrospective cohort study

April 26, 2024

Substantial somatic genomic variation and selection for BCOR mutations in human induced pluripotent stem cells

August 12, 2022

Residual ctDNA after treatment predicts early relapse in patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer

March 17, 2022

The NIHR Cambridge BRC is part of the NIHR and hosted by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with the University of Cambridge. We are at the heart of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Europe’s largest health research area.

Contact Us

Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre
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Hills Road
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ

Tel: 01223 348490

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13 Apr

🗓️ Join this free regional research event to learn about the @NIHRresearch Insight programme on Wednesday 13 May, 10am to 5pm.
🔎 Find out how to apply to start #YourPathInResearch and meet researchers in the #EastofEngland.
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31 Mar

We've launched lots of exciting funding and development opportunities in the last week!

Find them below 👇 or visit our website to see the full list of opportunities available: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding-opportunities

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1 Apr

Want to find out more about what health and care research is and why we do it?
Then why not book onto this free webinar by Dr Joseph Lanario - Thursday 16 April | 6-7pm | Online
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30 Mar

⏳ Final call: Applications are closing soon for Non-Executive Members of our new Council!

Help shape the strategic direction of health and care research in the UK. Apply by 10 April, 1pm ➡️https://www.nihr.ac.uk/honorary-and-specialty/nihr-council-non-executive-council-members

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24 Mar

Congratulations to Professor Grant Stewart who has been newly appointed as an #NIHR Senior Investigator https://bit.ly/4bI0owR

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21 Mar

Come and see us! We are at @CAST_Education (CAST) from 11am - 4pm for the @Cambridge_Fest Hands On Science Day!
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Cancer

This Theme’s Focus

Theme Leads

Professor Jean Abraham

Professor Brian Huntly

Theme Lead

Professor Jean Abraham

The Cancer theme is addressing these national challenges and ambitions by finding new ways for:

Early Detection

Integrated Cancer Medicine

New Treatments and Trials

Latest News

Cancer Case Studies

Cancer Publications

Contact Us

Useful Links