Institute Of Cancer Research Named UK's Top Research Centre

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 23 Dec 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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The Institute of Cancer Research has been ranked as the UK's leading academic research centre by the Times Higher Education, today.

The coveted independent ranking of the UK's 132 educational research centres was based on the Higher Education Funding Council's Research Assessment Exercise.

Educational organisations' research was given a 1 to 4 star rating, with The Institute receiving the highest percentage of research assessed as four stars, world leading in the areas of biological sciences and cancer studies.

Professor Peter Rigby, Chief Executive of The Institute of Cancer Research says.

"I am delighted by this external validation of the extremely high quality of our research. This is a great tribute to all of my colleagues who work so hard on behalf of cancer patients."

The review comes as The Institute is about to mark its centenary in 2009.

The Institute is at the forefront of the world's leading cancer research developments. It is a world leader in both genetics and drug research.

Major achievements that have taken place at The Institute since the previous RAE results in 2001:

-- The BRAF gene involved in 70 per cent of melanomas has been identified, the development of drugs to target the disease is underway

-- Demonstrated a new class of drugs called PARP inhibitors specifically target tumours carrying the BRCA1 and 2 mutations

-- Identification of four new breast cancer genes

-- Genetic susceptibility to lung cancer, prostate and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia revealed

-- The structure of the HSP90 protein involved in the development of cancer revealed leading to the development of a new class of drugs to provide a potential treatment for prostate, breast, bowel, ovarian and kidney cancer

-- Successful clinical trials of the drug abiraterone to treat prostate cancer

-- Stem cells that cause childhood leukaemia identified

The Institute of Cancer Research

The Institute of Cancer Research is Europe's leading cancer research centre with expert scientists working on cutting edge research. In 2009, The Institute marks its 100 years of world leading research into cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The Institute is a charity that relies on voluntary income. It is one of the world's most cost-effective major cancer research organisations with over 95p in every £ directly supporting research. For more information please visit http://www.icr.ac.uk.

Source
Cathy Beveridge
Institute of Cancer Research