Launch of £5m Appeal for Manchester Research Unit

The Appeal will be launched by Maurice Watkins, Director of Manchester United FC, and the Research Unit’s Director, Professor Anthony Howell, in an event at Manchester Town Hall.

The Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Unit at the University of Manchester brings together a team of world-class scientists. They aim to find treatments which work in a totally new way – by stopping cancer cells using healthy cells to grow and spread. The Research Unit has been set up with an initial £500,000 donation but money is needed to support this groundbreaking project over the next five years.

Maurice Watkins, Chair of the fundraising board, says: “With around 5,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer in the North West each year it is vital that new lifesaving treatments are found. We have a great opportunity to make a huge impact both nationally and internationally in the fight against the disease, but we need your support to make this happen.

“Whatever you can give, whatever fundraising you can do, your support will help us to remove the fear of breast cancer for good.”

Mother-of-two Emma Barnes, 34, from Dukinfield, Greater Manchester, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 at the age of 27 and treated at The Christie Hospital. She was then diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2005. She has since benefited from the lifesaving treatment, Herceptin, and five years on her disease remains under control.

Emma says: “I feel lucky to have had the best advice and treatment.  I’ve had five years of good health and been able to see my children grow up. Without Herceptin I wouldn’t be here today, which is why I’m supporting this Appeal to help find new treatments.”

The Research Unit has been set up by Breakthrough Breast Cancer in partnership with the University of Manchester because of the University’s leading reputation for cancer research. It is based within the Manchester Cancer Research Centre in the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research and is adjacent to the Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Under the directorship of Professor Howell and leading breast surgeon, Professor Nigel Bundred, the scientists and doctors will be looking at how cancer cells use healthy cells to survive and grow.  Four team leaders have been appointed – from prestigious research institutions in the US and Sweden – to carry forward this ambitious project. The Manchester team intends to tackle this key problem by finding treatments which stop this interaction taking place. The potential treatments would mean breast cancer patients are treated more effectively and would be an important step towards personalised treatment for all.

Professor Anthony Howell, Director of the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Unit at the University of Manchester, says: “New treatments have helped increase the number of women surviving breast cancer but the sad truth is that nearly 12,000 women die of the disease in the UK each year. That’s why we have set up this Research Unit to find treatments which could potentially be used for breast cancer and many other types of cancer.

“With the range of talent we have, we are in a great position to get our results from the laboratory to patients in the clinic as quickly as possible. With the public’s support, I’m confident that we can help save the lives of women with breast cancer.”

Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, says: “We are calling on people from across the North West to support this unique research project. Whether it is £10 or £10,000, whatever you give or raise will help. Whether it’s holding a coffee morning at home, a quiz night with work colleagues or a fancy dress ball, everyone can play a part in defeating breast cancer.”

To find out how to help Breakthrough Breast Cancer reach its £5m target, visit breakthrough.org.uk/manchester or call 020 7025 2400.