Life-saving research

In 2022/23, we have supported the hospital’s world-leading research programme with a

£5.4 million

research grant supporting early phase drug development, research into immunotherapeutics, early diagnosis, imaging and data science.

Pursuing breakthroughs that will change how cancer is treated forever

Cancer is a complex disease with hundreds of variations and an ability to adapt and evolve. It’s critical that we fund the development of groundbreaking clinical trials that The Royal Marsden can rapidly translate into improved outcomes, quicker recovery times and a better quality of life for its patients.

How we are funding research:

The £5.4 million research grant supported new and improved diagnosis and treatment.

This included the creation of the Integrated Pathology Unit, enabling experts to develop new tests for cancer and speed up diagnosis for patients. The Unit brings pathology into the modern era by using state-of-the-art laboratory techniques, digital imaging tools and artificial intelligence to analyse tissue samples. These new technologies will help pathologists diagnose cancer faster and more precisely than traditional laboratory methods.

Dr Anna Minchom smiling. She has blonde hair and is wearing a red and blue patterned shirt — Clinical Scientist and Consultant Medical Oncologist Dr Anna Minchom is funded by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

New and improved diagnosis and treatment

The grant has funded vital early phase drug development research. Dr Anna Minchom, who is funded by the Charity, led on the HYPER study, investigating the use of the drug guadecitabine and the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab to treat patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

It has also funded immunotherapeutics research to find new targeted cancer treatments. Solid Tumour Lead Dr Andrew Furness, who is funded by the Charity, led on research investigating the use of tumour infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy to treat patients with advanced skin cancer.

Finally, the International Centre for Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer (IReC) continued its world-leading work in curative treatment, palliation and supportive care of recurrent head and neck cancers. Among the IReC trials that have opened this year is the NOMINATE study, which investigates the use of ctDNA (or liquid biopsies) in assessing the genetic composition and tumour evolution of advanced thyroid cancer.

Support our work

We can only continue to do this groundbreaking research with the generous donations from our supporters. Help us to support more live-saving research.

Donate now

Find out more about how we are supporting world-leading cancer research at The Royal Marsden:

A smartly-dressed Royal Marsden doctor with a lanyard, standing next to a large white machine with a robotic arm

Prostate cancer breakthrough at The Royal Marsden could safely cut radiotherapy treatment time by 75%

Results from the ‘practice-changing’ PACE-B clinical trial showed that men with prostate cancer that has not yet spread, can be treated with 96% effectiveness in under two weeks.

Nurse working in a sterile cellular therapy lab at The Royal Marsden in Sutton

Major milestone reached as first-ever cellular therapy for solid tumours approved for the treatment of advanced melanoma.

The approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could mark the beginning for solid-tumour cellular immunotherapy – a field which has the potential to transform the way cancers are treated.

Dr Lee standing in front of a CT Scanner and a radiographer behind him using the machine

New artificial intelligence (AI) model could improve lung cancer early diagnosis

Researchers at The Royal Marsden hope this technology will eventually streamline the analysis of patient scans, speed-up the detection of lung cancer and help to fast-track high-risk patients to treatment.