Cancer research centre work begins

The new centre will house 30 research groups

Work has begun on a new state-of-the-art cancer research centre in Cambridge.

The £40m facility will be at the forefront of work to find new treatments for the disease.

The new centre is a collaboration between the University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK and Addenbrooke's NHS Trust.

It is on the Addenbrooke's Hospital campus and will house up to 30 research groups, all looking at different aspects of cancer.

Cambridge University's Vice Chancellor, Professor Alec Broers said: "This new centre will make a unique contribution to cancer research."

He said the partnership between the University and Cancer Research UK "would take advantage of Cambridge's huge investment in genetics, it's world-renowned hospital and the scientific excellence of Cancer Research UK."

The centre is due to open in 2005.

Cancer affects one in three patients in the UK and kills 3,000 people every week, according to Cancer Research UK.