Our Infrastructure

The Cancer theme benefits from the close affiliation between UCL and UCLH, with significant amounts been invested from both parties in developing our unique facilities.

These include:

University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre 

The Macmillan Cancer Centre is one of the UK’s largest and most advanced outpatient cancer care facilities with dedicated clinical research and imaging facilities including the first UK MRI-PET.

UCL Cancer Institute 

The UCL Cancer Institute comprises the largest concentration of biomedical researchers in Europe. It is London’s first Cancer Research UK centre, fostering world class research into the biology and treatment of cancers.

Bill Lyons Informatics centre 

The Bill Lyons Informatics Centre is situated in the Cancer Institute and focuses on the analysis and integration of large-scale genomic data sets and their relation with clinical data to unravel the specific mechanisms that underlie cancer.

UCL Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre 

The UCL Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre conducts early phase clinical trials which are enhanced by innovative molecular and imaging technologies. There is particular expertise and dedicated facilities for trials of radiation, photodynamic, vascular therapies, immunotherapy, biomarkers and tumour targeted antibodies.

UCL Advanced Diagnostics 

UCL Advanced Diagnostics is a specialist academic and clinical reference laboratory, which acts as the power house for immunohistochemistry. Its role is pivotal in bridging basic scientific research into clinical practice.  It interlinks between the Cancer Institute and University College Hospitals NHS Trust.

NIHR/Wellcome UCLH Clinical Research Facility 

The unit provides a high-quality clinical environment for cancer drug development with state of the art facilities and experienced nursing to support research studies. An extensive portfolio of academic and commercially sponsored early phase clinical trials are undertaken here, including first in man trials, making it possible to convey experimental treatments to patients in a safe manner. 

NIHR Oncology Translational Research Collaboration

The Cancer Theme of the UCL/UCLH BRC is a member of the NIHR Oncology Translational Research Collaboration (O-TRC). The O-TRC aims to bring alignment across translational research infrastructure and resources to address gaps in clinical research and to identify areas with research needs which are not being met across the broader oncology clinical research landscape in the UK

UCLH Proton BEAM Centre (PBC)

The UCLH Proton BEAM Centre (PBC) has established collaborations with the PBC In Manchester (aligned to the Manchester BRC) and also the MD Anderson in the US. Ongoing research includes exploring optimal means of delivering protons; evaluation of cancer therapies (brain, lung, gastrointestinal), the establishment of proton vs photon trials and the development of an AI-based model for adaptive radiotherapy

UCL International Alliance for Cancer Early Detection (ACED)

The UCL International Alliance for Cancer Early Detection (ACED) is a £55 million partnership between Cancer Research UK, the Canary Center at Stanford University, the University of Cambridge, the Knight Cancer Institute at OHSU, University College London and the University of Manchester. The aim of the partnership is to tackle the biggest challenges in early detection, an important area of unmet clinical need.

Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence

Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence at UCL and Manchester, co-led by Charles Swanton and Caroline Dive. The Centre supports Multi-disciplinary studies across eight interlinking themes: Basic Science, Immunology, Drug Discovery, Early Detection and Pre-Invasive Disease, Tumour Evolution and Heterogeneity, Biomarkers, Clinical Trials and, Radiation Biology/Radiotherapy Trials.

CRUK Brain Tumour Centre of Excellence

CRUK Brain Tumour Centre of Excellence is a joint initiative of the University of Edinburgh and UCL aiming to establish a new translational pipeline built on a deeper biological understanding of brain cancer, translating biological and data-intensive health research and phenotypic-led drug discovery (in disease-relevant and predictive pre-clinical models) via a strong clinical community that is ready to perform state-of-the-art adaptive clinical studies.

CRUK City of London Centre

CRUK City of London Centre brings together researchers University College London, King’s College London, Barts / Queen Mary University of London and The Francis Crick Institute. The network will generate novel innovative biological therapies, diagnostics and stratification strategies in addition to providing a clinical and translational pipeline for cancer discovery science. The Centre, based at UCL, has been designated as a Centre of Excellence in the CRUK Radiation Network (RADNET).

National Cancer Immunotherapy Translational Accelerator Network

The National Cancer Immunotherapy Translational Accelerator Network has been developed to maximise the potential of immunotherapeutics to cure more cancer sooner. Key members include University College London and UCL Hospitals; King's College London; The Francis Crick Institute; Barts Cancer Institute; The Royal Marsden Hospital; The Institute of Cancer Research.

MCC