Today (31st October), the eve of Movember 2012,
Prostate Cancer UK urges the country's top scientists to be part of
a groundbreaking new research initiative funded by The Movember
Foundation.
Movember's Centre of Excellence, the first of its kind in the
UK, seeks to deliver a better future for men with prostate cancer
by bringing together the cream of the UK's research community. The
aim of the Centre, which will receive an initial £5million
investment, is to uncover the answers to some of the toughest
questions that remain in relation to the disease that affects an
estimated 250,000 men in the UK.
Paul Villanti, Executive Director of Global Programmes at
Movember, said: "Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men
and is predicted to become the most common cancer overall by 2030.
Despite this we still know shockingly little about it, and men have
been left to make the best of diagnosis and treatment methods that
are decades behind where we need to be. This is simply unacceptable
and cannot be allowed to stand.
"Working with our colleagues at Prostate Cancer UK, Movember is
delighted to announce our plans for a UK Centre of Excellence in
prostate cancer research, dedicated to finding the answers to the
many questions that still remain around a disease that kills one
man every hour.
"Tens of thousands of mo-bros and mo-sistas have shown their
determination to change the face of men's health since the launch
of Movember and we look forward to many more lending their support
next month. Once up and running The Movember Centre of
Excellence will be a lasting tribute to their endeavours. It would
simply not be happening were it not for them. We cannot thank them
enough."
The Movember Centre of Excellence will act as a hub for UK
prostate cancer research, working in collaboration with national
and international research networks. The centre will aim to ensure
the speedy progression of new discoveries from their development in
the lab to their roll-out throughout the country to the men who
desperately need them. The centre will also provide a world-class
training base, passing on a golden inheritance of top UK based
prostate cancer researchers to future generations.
Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of Prostate Cancer UK, said: "We are
both honoured and delighted to be working with The Movember
Foundation to help develop the UK's first centre of excellence for
prostate cancer research. For far too long prostate cancer has been
overlooked and neglected. Today's announcement marks the next step
along the road to putting things right. We look forward to bringing
together the greatest minds in the world of prostate cancer to help
find the solutions we need for a world where lives are no longer
limited by the disease.
"From today we urge members of the research community to come
forward for the chance to help us build up the critical mass in
prostate cancer research we so desperately need. We look forward to
working together on this groundbreaking initiative, united we can
beat prostate cancer once and for all."
Throughout the world, the researchers and clinicians who make
the biggest impact in prostate cancer research are based in centres
of excellence. The Movember Foundation and Prostate Cancer UK
are therefore looking for highly acclaimed, internationally
renowned prostate cancer experts - who are willing to bring their
skills ideas and innovation to the table - to get in touch and
apply to be part of this historic opportunity. Initial funding
will be for 5 years.
For more information or details on how to apply visit:
www.prostatecanceruk.org/research/information-for-researchers
Closing date for applications is 3rd January
2013.