Institute for Cancer Research

Institute for Cancer Research. It is a world-leading academic institution dedicated to cancer research and drug discovery. Founded in the early 20th century, it operates as a charitable organization and a college of the University of London. The institute's mission is to make the discoveries that defeat cancer, working closely with its partner hospital, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, to translate research into patient benefit.

History

The institute was founded in 1909 as the Cancer Hospital Research Institute, evolving from the research laboratories of the Royal Marsden Hospital. A pivotal early figure was Ernest Kennaway, who in the 1930s identified the first chemical carcinogens, linking environmental factors to cancer development. Throughout the mid-20th century, its scientists made significant contributions to understanding DNA damage and chemotherapy. The institute was granted a Royal Charter in 2007, formally becoming a college of the University of London, and has since expanded its focus on targeted cancer therapy and evolutionary biology.

Research programs

Core research is organized into interdisciplinary divisions, including the Division of Cancer Therapeutics and the Division of Structural Biology. A flagship program is the Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery, which pioneers research into cancer evolution and drug resistance. The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, a major collaboration with the charity Breast Cancer Now, is dedicated to understanding breast cancer biology. Other key areas span computational biology, radiotherapy physics, and cancer genetics, supported by core facilities like the Drug Discovery Unit and the Cancer Research UK Cancer Imaging Centre.

Scientific achievements

Researchers at the institute have been responsible for numerous landmark discoveries. These include the development of abiraterone and olaparib, two globally used cancer drugs that emerged from its drug discovery pipeline. Its scientists played a key role in the Human Genome Project and subsequent cancer genome studies, identifying critical driver mutations. The institute's work on the PI3-kinase pathway and PARP inhibitors has defined new standards of care. Its researchers have received prestigious awards including the Lasker Award and the Royal Society's Royal Medal.

Organizational structure

The institute is governed by a Board of Trustees and led by a Chief Executive. It is organized academically into several research divisions and operates a dedicated Postgraduate Research program, awarding PhD degrees through the University of London. Key leadership positions include the President of the Institute for Cancer Research and the Dean of Postgraduate Studies. Its operations are supported by a large team of fundraising and communications professionals, managing relationships with major funders like Cancer Research UK and the Wellcome Trust.

Collaborations and partnerships

Its most integral partnership is with The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, forming a comprehensive biomedical research centre designated by the National Institute for Health and Care Research. It is a core member of the Cancer Research UK Centre network and collaborates extensively with the Francis Crick Institute. International alliances include partnerships with the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The institute also works with global pharmaceutical companies like AstraZeneca and Merck & Co. on translational drug development projects.

Category:Cancer research organizations Category:Medical and health organizations based in London Category:University of London