The Centre, which is a joint venture between the University of East Anglia (UEA) and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH), will be ideally placed to draw on the expertise of leading science institutions around the Norfolk Research Park and the University and will focus on finding new treatments for many diseases that affect an ageing population, including cancer.
Over a quarter of Norfolk’s population of 849,400 is of a pensionable age. Norfolk is one of the UK’s oldest counties and so diseases affecting an ageing population are naturally more prevalent. The facility will focus its world-class research on cancer, antibiotic resistant disease, musculo-skeletal disease and gastro-intestinal diseases.
The building will cost around £19million and will be managed by UEA. Hospital clinicians will work alongside researchers, focusing on all people newly diagnosed with cancer at NNUH and James Paget University Hospital, meaning it will be possible to carry out translational research; which is translating research based on real life patients into trials and treatments.
The new Norwich Medical Research Building will join the Norwich Research Park, a group of world-class facilities that together have been ranked fourth in the UK for the number of most highly cited scientists – after London, Cambridge and Oxford. The proximity to the other faculties means there will be easy synergy between them, ideas can be shared, results compared and knowledge bounced.
For Big C, this is a big jump in terms of the kind of research that has historically been funded. Until this, Big C has primarily focused on small, starter projects, many going on to bigger projects. This is with the exception of the larger funding of two professors - Prof Cooper and Prof Dylan Edwards, who is Big C Chair of Cancer Studies. Big C has funded many projects that have revealed exciting results but have been too small for larger charities to consider. However, translational research is the next step towards finding medicines for different types of cancer. It will allow results to be taken to the next level and clinical trials to go ahead.
Nikki Morris, Big C’s Head of Clinical Services, is proud to be involved in the next big jump for Big C. She said: “I am delighted in the instrumental role that Big C is taking in supporting the new translational research facility here in Norwich. Research has always been at the heart of what we do and the opportunity to take the agenda forward in this way is one that we would not have missed."
Contact Big C to find out more about the translational research facility or raising money to help Big C by visiting www.big-c.co.uk or calling 01603 619900.
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