Transatlantic Cancer Collaboration Seeks to Accelerate Early Detection

Cancer Research UK has formed an international collaboration with the Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) to accelerate research in the early detection of cancer. 

The collaboration also seeks to accelerate progress by identifying and tackling the barriers scientists, including:

•          A lack of research models for the earliest stages of the disease

•          A shortage of tissue samples available for research, especially samples from higher risk patients

•          Limited funding for this type of research

•          The need for a better understanding of the biology of early cancer and appropriate technologies to detect its features.

In June 2015 the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute announced that it had raised $1 billion to support its vision to realize the full potential of precision cancer medicine. The funds enabled the institute to begin fast-track recruitment of top researchers to join its team and accelerate construction of a research building and cancer clinic space to support its expansion. 

The Cancer Research-OHSU collaboration will host an annual international conference series beginning in 2016.