We have over 200 clinicians, scientists and research students who share a common purpose: to improve treatment outcomes for patients with cancer. Their work covers the whole spectrum of research – from understanding the biological and molecular differences between normal and malignant cells to using this knowledge to develop new anti-cancer drugs and testing the drugs in clinical trials.
We are able to undertake this research through our unique combination of staff, facilities and our close working relationships with companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, and with national and international clinical trials networks.
Our staff and postgraduate students are based in the Northern Institute for Cancer Research (NICR) or the School of Chemistry. The NICR incorporates the Newcastle Cancer Centre, a unique collaboration between Cancer Research UK and the North of England Children’s Cancer Research Fund. The Centre has our inter-related research teams: drug discovery and imaging; solid tumour target discovery; clinical and translational research; and paediatric oncology and haematology. Medicinal chemists work in the School of Chemistry.
We are a major training base for the next generation of cancer researchers. Our postgraduate community of around 90 students come from a variety of subject backgrounds including biological and biomedical sciences, chemistry, genetics, pharmacy, medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine. As a student at Newcastle, you will receive support through our comprehensive research training programme, expert advice and guidance from a dedicated supervisory team and have access to relevant research facilities.
This could include state-of-the-art laboratories that contain a full range of contemporary genomic, proteomic, synthetic chemistry and pharmacology equipment and clinical research facilities. Many of our students receive funding.
We have approximately 15 PhD and integrated MRes/PhD studentships available each year, including the Newcastle Cancer Centre training programme, the CR-UK Medicinal Chemistry Studentship Training Scheme and the CANCURE EC Marie Curie Early Stage Training Programme.
For qualified health professionals, our web-based distance learning taught programmes cover all aspects of delivering seamless care to patients. The programmes have been developed by, and are delivered in association with, the Northern Centre for Cancer Care.