Liverpool has had many successes in the field of cancer biomedical research over the most part of the last two decades. Building on strong foundations and moving towards an altogether more integrated approach to fulfil Liverpool’s true potential for biomedical and clinical cancer research, the Liverpool Cancer Research Institute (LCRI) provides a single organisational framework through which this change can happen.

At the heart of the endeavour is a partnership between the region’s three biggest stakeholders in cancer research, the University of Liverpool, The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust and North West Cancer Research, working alongside Liverpool Health Partners, the Academic Health Science System in our region bringing together 8 NHS Trusts and four HEIs and working closely with the Innovation Agency and the Clinical Research Network North West Coast.

The vision for this initiative is to build on the work of previous successful initiatives such as the North West Cancer Research Centre and transform biomedical cancer research in the region by establishing a nationally leading, cancer research institute, underpinned by multi-stakeholder collaboration, that will enable the latest cancer research discoveries to be developed into innovative new effective treatments for cancer patients as quickly as possible.

Dr Matina Tsalavouta, Head of Strategic Planning and Engagement for LCRI, invited the research community to engage. “We are at a very dynamic phase of operationalising LCRI and this is a timely opportunity for cancer researchers or researchers whose research could be relevant to cancer to engage. We’ve just launched the LCRI website, we are organising a series of workshops to bring together academic researchers and clinicians, and we are planning a scientific symposium. Do get in touch to share your ideas, find out more and take part”.

The ultimate goal of our research is to generate the knowledge that will translate to patient benefit and improve clinical practice.

The LCRI functions as a translational research engine in which clinical themes provide a bi-directional conduit linking together fundamental science, experimental medicine and clinical research. In this way, the LCRI drives and facilitates the translation of scientific discoveries into new tests and treatments (forward translation), whilst at the same time generating clinical questions and patient samples to steer and facilitate fundamental research (reverse translation).

Professor Andy Pettitt is the inaugural Director of LCRI, Ronald Finn Professor of Experimental Medicine at the University of Liverpool, Honorary Consultant Haemato-oncologist at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Director of the Liverpool Health Partners Cancer Programme and Chair of the National Cancer Research Institute Lymphoma Group.

The LCRI is part of the Liverpool Health Partners Cancer Programme which is structured drive the consolidation, focus and alignment of Liverpool’s large portfolio of cancer-related biomedical research in order to maximise research power and harness it for patient benefit.

You can learn more about LCRI at: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/liverpool-cancer-research-institute/about/ and keep up-to-date with the all developments, relevant events, funding calls and cancer research related news by following @LivCancerRes

As time progresses information on events and meetings will be available through the web and on twitter. In addition to Prof. Pettitt, and Dr Tsalavouta, a key point of contact for LCRI is Ms Jackie Henderson, the LCRI Administrator and Key contact for NWCR funded research at the University and related enquiries.

Get involved

If you are a University of Liverpool academic or clinician in The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and any other LHP Trust in the region and would like to join the LCRI events, contact the team for further information at lcri@liverpool.ac.uk.