Christie Impact Report 2025

For Jan Ross, a 59-year-old former paediatric nurse from Liverpool, taking part in a clinical trial at The Christie has been life-changing. Diagnosed with multiple myeloma — a type of blood cancer that cannot be cured but can be managed — Jan faced limited options.

But thanks to a new drug developed through a clinical trial at The Christie, supported by The Christie Charity, Jan is now in complete remission. She continues to visit the hospital every two weeks for blood tests and treatment and is enjoying a greatly improved quality of life. The trial was part of a pioneering early-phase research programme led by Dr Emma Searle, consultant haematologist and deputy medical director of The Christie’s Clinical Research Facility. With the help of Charity funding, Dr Searle and her team have been able to bring complex global trials to Manchester — often the only UK location outside London to offer such studies. These early-stage trials test new treatments in patients for the first time and are often the only option left for people with hard-to-treat blood cancers. Around 60 patients a year are now benefitting from this vital work, which is made possible thanks to the generosity of Charity supporters. “The impact of being part of this trial is huge,” says Jan. “There is hope and a new way to have a brilliant quality of life.”

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