The Prostate Cancer Charity has announced today (Monday 11
April) that it has successfully gained membership of the National
Cancer Research Institute (NCRI). The membership represents an
important milestone for the Charity, ensuring that prostate cancer
is given a profile within the national cancer research effort.
The NCRI is a UK wide partnership across public and private
sectors, and exists to develop coordinated plans for cancer
research to address the most important research questions and avoid
unnecessary duplication of effort. In doing so, they aim to
maximise the benefits to public and patients from the investment of
over £500m pa. The NCRI works across charity, government and
industry funders enabling partners to set a national research
agenda.
Since the Charity launched in 1996, it has invested £9.5 million
in prostate cancer research. With an established research strategy
in place, the Charity funds research across the spectrum from
laboratory work, clinical research with patients, to survivorship
research into the physical, psychological and emotional issues
affecting men with prostate cancer and their families.
Currently 10,000 men with prostate cancer die every year and
more than 37,000 men are diagnosed every year in the UK. The
Charity has made a commitment to ensure that by 2020, significantly
more men will survive prostate cancer. The Charity's NCRI
membership is crucial because the body promotes co-operation in
cancer research among its member organisations
meaning that research into prostate cancer will be strengthened by
the move.
Dr Jane Cope, director of the NCRI, said: "We're delighted to
welcome the Prostate Cancer Charity to the NCRI. They are joining
us at an auspicious time - our ten year anniversary - and we are
pleased that the Charity will be working with the rest of our
partners to help shape the next decade in cancer research."
Owen Sharp, Chief Executive for The Prostate Cancer Charity
said: "We're thrilled to become a member of the NCRI. This presents
a significant opportunity to contribute to the strategic direction
of cancer research in the UK, particularly prostate cancer. This is
a fantastic outcome for the 250,000 men living with prostate cancer
in the UK. We're really looking forward to working with the
NCRI and all of its members in shaping the future of cancer
research."
The Charity joins 21 other organisations including the
Association for International Cancer Research, Medical Research
Council and the Department of Health: Economic and Social Research
Council, and is the first member of the NCRI to specifically
represent men's health.