News releases
Chester Scientist Recruited to New North West Cancer Research Institute
06 September 2004
A cancer research scientist has returned to his Chester roots to take up a post in a newly created centre of excellence for cancer research.
Dr Michael Cross has been appointed as a Principal Investigator at North West Cancer Research Fund Institute in the University of Wales, Bangor.� Dr Cross, who grew up in Broughton, has come from Uppsala University in Sweden, where he has spent the last seven years, �to take up the post.� He �has returned to live in Chester, �the place where his parents still reside.
North West Cancer Research Fund Institute is a major new cancer research centre in the University of Wales, Bangor.� Unique within Wales and equipped to standards barely matched elsewhere in the UK, it will conduct world class research into the fundamental causes of cancer.� It was officially opened by the Lord Lieutenant of Gwynedd, Professor Eric Sunderland, on 23 July 2004 and will eventually house a staff of 50 scientists.
Creation of the Institute has been through funding from North West Cancer Research Fund, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and the University itself.� North West Cancer Research Fund has voluntary committees across North West England and North Wales including Chester.� It makes between �750,000 and �1 million available every year for fundamental research.� Amazingly, virtually all of this money is raised by voluntary efforts and donations.� Throughout its 56 year history, over 90p in every � raised has consistently been spent directly on research.� North West Cancer Research Fund gave �432,000 - the largest single award ever made for research in Wales - to help to create the Institute.
Dr Cross, 35, �read for a degree in Biochemistry at the University of Surrey and then a PHD which he completed at the Cancer Studies Institute in the University of Birmingham.� He then continued his research in Sweden.
Dr Cross's area of research expertise is concerned with the role blood vessels play in cancer.� He studies the mechanism which encourages the blood supply to develop to sustain a tumour.� The area is known as 'angiogenesis' and represents a new approach to treating cancer.� Instead of trying to kill the tumour directly, efforts are made to kill the blood supply which is allowing it to grow and spread.
Dr Cross is delighted to be back in the North West.� 'North West Cancer Research Fund Institute is an excellent new facility that has not existed before in this part of country,' he said.� 'Besides allowing top quality research to take place, the new Institute will provide an environment to train students to PhD level in areas of medical research.� The Institute will be vital in increasing the international scientific profile of North Wales.'�
If you have helped to collect money for The North West Cancer Research Fund, don't forget to tell us all about how you raised the money so we can publicise your efforts.