Oncology, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute: University of Cambridge

The Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Cambridge Research Institute opened in September 2006 and houses one of the most exciting developments in cancer research in the UK. The Institute is in partnership with the University and its location on the Addenbrooke's site encourages a strong clinical interface with both the hospital and the Clinical School.

Research focuses on practical questions of cancer diagnosis, treatment and prevention, placing particular emphasis on clinical and translational research.

An important part of the mission of CRI is to provide excellent training in research related to the biology of cancer. For this, they have committed significant resources and the PhD students at CRI are a key part of the research teams.

Key research areas

• Functional genomics of drug resistance (J Brenton)
• Molecular imaging (K Brindle, J Griffiths)
• Functional genomics of breast cancer (C Caldas)
• Nuclear receptor transcription (J Carroll)
• Centrosome biology (F Gergely)
• Proteases and tumour microenvironment (G Murphy)
• Epigenetics and imprinting (A Murrell)
• Cellular senescence and tumour suppressors (M Narita)
• Urological research (D Neal)
• Regulatory circuitry (D Odom)
• Genetic susceptibility to cancer (B Ponder)
• Bioinformatics (S Tavaré)
• Tumour modelling and experimental medicine-pancreatic cancer (D Tuveson)
• Epithelial cell biology-skin (F Watt)
• Stem cell biology of the intestine (D Winton)

Research collaborations

These studies are conducted jointly with the University and the NHS Clinical Department of Oncology, and other relevant clinical departments such as surgery, radiology, pathology, haematology and public health. They also maintain close links with the Strangeways Research Laboratory and selected pharmaceutical companies.