Cancer | Research beacons | The University of Manchester

Cancer | Research beacons | The University of Manchester
Cancer
£150m
Cancer campus home to a state-of-the-art comprehensive cancer research centre.
700+
Experts addressing the full cancer detection and treatment pathway.
£150m
In active research grants.
950
Clinical studies active at NHS sites across Manchester, including the Christie Hospital.
Lung health
Pilot offering lung health checks across Manchester has now been rolled out as a national targeted lung cancer screening programme.
Lynch Syndrome
Research prompted NICE to adopt a guideline that women diagnosed with womb cancer should be screened for Lynch Syndrome.
Cervical cancer
Improving prevention and treatment of cervical cancer in Kenya.
Standards of care
Setting standards for biliary tract cancer care in low and middle-income countries, improving survival rates.
Levelling up
Increasing childhood cancer survival rates in India by levelling up research and treatment standards to match the UK.
Saving lives
Professor Vaskar Saha’s work to
increase survival rates in India
for children with leukaemia.
Lung cancer
Saving lives through earlier detection
.
Ethnic diversity
Studying the
differences in prostate cancer among ethnic groups
to deliver more targeted treatment.
Reducing the global cancer burden and innovating to extend lives
We're delivering impact across the whole cancer pathway. From genomic discovery to world leading treatments, our expertise and facilities span the entire bench to bedside journey.
We’re world leaders in cancer prevention and earlier detection. Supported by one of two high-energy proton beam centres in the UK, we’re aiding the radiotherapy treatment of tens of thousands of patients each year. Our experts are also working across cancer genomics, biomarkers, and experimental and precision medicine. Working with our partners across the world, we’re also helping to reduce inequalities across the entire cancer pathway and develop solutions to ensure more people can access precision medicine regardless of where they live.
We’re making an impact at home with innovative pilots like the mobile lung health check, giving the local, and now national population increased access to diagnostic tools designed to detect cancer when it’s at its most treatable. Across the UK our experts work closely with policymakers to implement crucial policy changes in cancer screening and treatment standards. Further afield, we’re increasing our knowledge through global partnerships. Together we’re improving access to prevention, detection and treatment strategies in low- and middle-income countries, along with for cancers of non-European descent.
This is supported by our unique Manchester Cancer Research Centre partnership, joining forces with Cancer Research UK and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust to deliver real change for people affected by the disease. Together, we aim to create a future free from the burden of cancer.
Our research covers
Transforming outcomes for cancer patients with new prevention and detection strategies.
Focusing research on developing innovative technologies to aide earlier detection.
Understanding underlying risk factors for cancers, from inherited conditions such as Lynch or Li-Fraumeni Syndrome to obesity.
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Pioneering targeted radiotherapy treatments through our access to world-leading MR-Linac and proton beam therapy facilities.
Delivering precision treatments across the different stages of a cancer's progression.
Developing experimental therapies through early phase clinical trials to offer patients access to the newest treatments.
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Addressing the socio, cultural and environmental variables that affect cancer progressions and survival.
Helping to identify and remedy inequalities across the cancer pathway.
Developing cancer detection and treatment strategies that are specific to different communities across the world.
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Ensuring inequalities across the cancer pathways are identified and remedied.
Help people, regardless of background or circumstance, to access high quality cancer care.
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Key centres and institutes
Manchester Cancer Research Centre
We're a proud partner of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre, founded in 2006 alongside Cancer Research UK and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.
The MCRC drives the power of Team Science, enabling collaboration between clinicians, researchers, patients, and the public to tackle the biggest research challenges.
Through the MCRC, our researchers collaborate to turn research findings into better, more effective treatments for cancer.
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Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute
Driving and facilitating the development of world class translational and clinical research, resulting in practice-changing results for patients.
Working with scientists and clinicians locally, nationally and internationally to improve care by implementing personalised medicine.
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CRUK National Biomarker Centre
Leading biomarker-informed patient management to maximise the benefit of treatments and reduce harm.
Utilising biomarkers at every stage in a patient’s journey, from pre-disposition and early detection through to the best care in advanced disease.
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CRUK Manchester Centre
One of seven Cancer Research UK centres, connecting Manchester with other organisations to drive collaborative research.
The Manchester Centre leverages our collective strengths in novel radiotherapy and experimental cancer medicines, earlier detection, cancer biomarkers, molecular pathology and digital technologies.
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One in Two: a cancer research podcast
Created in partnership with the Manchester Cancer Research Centre, we feature cancer researchers, patients and discuss the innovations and discoveries that are changing the landscape of early detection.
Listen here
to the One in Two podcast
News
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How a Study Supported by Sarah Harding’s Legacy Transformed One Woman’s Future
Former Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh came face to face with the life-changing impact of her bandmate Sarah Harding’s legacy — meeting a mum whose breast cancer was detected early thanks to research funded in Sarah’s name carried out by the University of Manchester, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT),
UK cancer scientists uncover genetic clues as to what drives tumour growth
A team of scientists from Manchester and London have, for the first time, decoded the full range of mutations that drive tumour growth, which could pave the way for a new era in precision medicine, offering more effective treatments for thousands of people with cancer.
New research indicates a simple blood test could detect the deadliest brain tumour in the future
Researchers in Manchester have developed an experimental method that shows potential for accurately detecting the most common and aggressive form of brain cancer in adults, known as glioblastoma, from the blood.
Study reveals inequalities in men with learning disabilities and prostate cancer
Shocking inequalities experienced by men with learning disabilities when diagnosed with prostate cancer have been highlighted in a study by University of Manchester and Christie NHS Foundation Trust researchers.
Third Eve fellowship to understand and prevent aggressive womb cancer announced
The Eve appeal  in partnership with North West Cancer Research, has  awarded a  third Fellowship to Dr Sarah Kitson, gynaecological cancer surgeon and researcher at the University of Manchester.
Novel analysis shows promise for revealing early ovarian cancer signals
University of Manchester researchers have shown that analysis of fluid flushed through a fallopian tube holds promise for providing insights into molecular changes linked to early ovarian cancer development.
Major study launched to make advanced cancer treatments safer for patients
A major new UK study, led by The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and The University of Manchester, has been launched to help patients with cancer better tolerate cutting-edge immunotherapy treatments like CAR-T. It’s the first and largest programme of its kind ever established in the UK and is the culmination of 30 years of worldwide research.
New research confirms HPV vaccination prevents cervical cancer
Two new Cochrane reviews show strong and consistent evidence that Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are effective in preventing cervical cancer and pre-cancerous changes, especially when given to young people before they are exposed to the virus.
Events
Digital Health Equity seminar: Women’s health, equity and the role of digital health policy in addressing health inequalities in the UK
13 May 2026, 1pm-2pm
The next seminar in the University of Manchester Digital Health Equity Seminar Series is on Wed 13th-May, 1-2pm BST via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/92175396746. Lopa Patel MBE (Divers..
Interdisciplinarity &: 2026 Series - Research Ethos: Speed-Networking
13 May 2026, 2.30pm-4.30pm
Each research discipline has its own ethos—distinct ways of asking questions, applying methods, and communicating ideas. This diversity can sometimes feel like a barrier to colla..
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General enquiries
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- research beacons team
Research at Manchester
Find out more about the breadth and depth of research at our University.
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about research at Manchester