Harborough, Oadby and Wigston MP, Sir Edward Garnier QC, is backing an appeal from Cancer Research UK to help save more lives in his constituency and across the United Kingdom.
Sir Edward visited the Cancer Research UK Centre at Leicester University last week (27th February) with Conservative MEP for the East Midlands, Emma McClarkin, to learn more about how researchers are finding new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease.
They specialise in the treatment and management of thoracic cancers, such as lung cancer but also concentrate on colon, breast, pancreatic and skin cancers.
Sir Edward was able to see some of their life-saving work during a tour of a laboratory at the Cancer Research UK Leicester centre and to find out how their research will help save thousands of lives in the years to come.
He said: “We cannot underestimate the devastating impact that cancer has and will have on families in Harborough now and in the future. It was inspiring to visit the Leicester Cancer Research UK Centre, to meet the doctors and scientists working there and to hear about how they are offering new hope to families in Leicestershire and across the country. This research is turning the tables on cancer.”
Thanks to the generosity of its supporters, Cancer Research UK was able to spend around £2 million in Leicester last year on some of the country’s leading scientific and clinical research.
The Leicester Cancer Research UK Centre brings together the brightest minds from around 50 research groups located within University of Leicester departments, the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and the Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit – all working together to save more lives.
Professor Dean Fennell, Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma Research Lead said “The Cancer Research UK Leicester Centre is a jewel in the city’s crown, a testament to the value of scientific evidence in beating cancer sooner. I was delighted to be able to show Sir Edward some of the valuable work of my team.”
Layla Theiner, Head of Public Affairs and Campaigning at Cancer Research UK said: “Cancer survival rates in the UK are still lagging behind the best in Europe and too many cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage, when they are harder to treat successfully.
“We have a thriving community of scientists in Leicester who are working tirelessly to beat cancer sooner. But we must make sure we have the right environment in the UK for our work to really benefit patients.”