Islanders raise nearly £15m. for cancer research centre
CHANNEL ISLAND residents have raised more than half the funds needed to build the UK’s first dedicated centre for cancer immunology research.
The University of Southampton has reached its £25m. target to go ahead with the project – almost £15m. of which was raised through contributions from islanders.
Southampton scientists have made a number of advances in tumour immunology and immunotherapy research.
The new Centre for Cancer Immunology, based at University Hospital Southampton, will bring together world-leading cancer scientists and enable interdisciplinary teams to expand clinical trials and develop more lifesaving drugs.
Scientists will move into the state-of-the-art centre next month and centre director Professor Tim Elliott cannot wait.
‘I am proud to be spearheading a world-class team in the UK’s first centre dedicated to cancer immunology research, at such an exciting time in cancer immunology developments.
‘By attracting the best talent and collaborating across disciplines, we will push the boundaries of knowledge about how our immune system works against cancer and accelerate towards more life-saving cancer treatments.’
The support from the Channel Islands included a gift of £2m. from a Guernsey resident last autumn, £1m. from Jim Wilkinson and his trustee, Collas Crill Trust Ltd, and £1.35m. from alumnus James Vernon and his wife, Mindy, who live in Jersey.
Former Guernsey professional footballer Matt Le Tissier also backed the university’s campaign publicly, along with former Bailiff and University of Southampton alumnus Sir Geoffrey Rowland.
Full story in today's Guernsey Press
