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Corporate news

Leading the way in radiotherapy research

Christie scientists and clinicians have been awarded a major cash boost to pioneer new radiotherapy technologies and techniques that could help more people survive cancer in the future. Experts will receive £16.5 million over the next five years from the Cancer Research UK RadNet programme to develop new state of the art radiotherapy treatments at The Christie. Manchester has been chosen to be one of just seven centres of excellence in a UK-wide network that will accelerate advances in radiotherapy research. The Manchester centre has been awarded Radiation Research Unit status, with funding for both research groups and infrastructure. In collaboration with The Christie, the funding will support University of Manchester researchers to use advanced radiotherapy technologies such as proton beam therapy, MR-linac machines and FLASH radiotherapy which delivers ultrahigh radiation doses in fractions of a second. Scientists and doctors will also work to personalise radiotherapy in combination with new treatments. For example, one of the aims is to identify new biomarkers that can be

NEW TECHNIQUES: the cash will allow research into new radiotherapy techniques including proton beam therapy

He said: “We are very proud that Manchester has been awarded this grant to bring the next generation of radiotherapy treatments to patients sooner. The funding will support us to develop new radiotherapy technologies to help more people survive cancer, with fewer side effects and a better quality of life after treatment.”

used to predict how patients will benefit from having immunotherapy with radiotherapy. Professor Rob Bristow, Director of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre and Chief Academic Officer at The Christie, is lead researcher for the centre.

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