Winding down of National Cancer Research Institute ‘sad’ for those with blood cancer
Today, the UK's National Cancer Research Institute announced it is winding down. Launched in 2001, only last year, the organisation consulted widely to produce a new strategy. Now board members have made the decision to wind down the Institute.
It’s sad that this long standing, multi-partner collaboration, between clinicians, those with lived experience and charities will be winding down.
- Sarah McDonald, Deputy Director of Research at Blood Cancer UK
"The partnership has had success, helping identify unmet needs for those with cancer, helping develop 100’s of trials, with thousands of people getting access to new, potentially life-saving treatments.
Clinical trials are the only way those living with blood cancer can access new treatment. While this announcement doesn’t mean that an ongoing trial and those accessing existing drugs will be affected, work will be needed to make sure this gap is plugged.
The National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI), has played an important role in the cancer research landscape, informing Blood Cancer UK research strategy development, providing information on unique funding trends by area and disease type. At Blood Cancer UK, we know collaboration is vital to improve treatments for people with blood cancer, and we’re deeply committed to continue collaborating with researchers, patients, charities and government to ensure the hard work of the NCRI isn’t lost.”