The Sir Bobby Robson Institute is a planned £30 million purpose-built cancer clinical trials centre being developed at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, next to the Northern Centre for Cancer Care.

A partnership between Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle University, it will bring together cancer research teams that currently deliver both early-phase and later-phase clinical trials.

The project will be fully funded by The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, part of Newcastle Hospitals Charity, and construction of the Institute is now underway.

Hope for future cancer patients

Thanks to the grant made from the Wolfson Foundation via Newcastle University, and the generosity of founding donors, supporters and fundraisers, the campaign has raised more than £28 million, offering hope to future cancer patients in the North East and further afield.

Professor Chris Day, Vice-Chancellor and President of Newcastle University, said: "We are delighted that the Wolfson Foundation has awarded Newcastle University this funding to support the Sir Bobby Robson Institute.

“This facility will create an environment where Newcastle University researchers, clinicians and patients can work together to accelerate the discovery of new treatments and improve outcomes for people living with cancer.

“By expanding our capacity for world-leading research, the institute will further strengthen Newcastle’s position as an internationally recognised centre of excellence for cancer research and innovation. This funding will help drive advances that will benefit patients both regionally and beyond.”

Newcastle University's contribution reflects its long-standing commitment to improving cancer outcomes through research, innovation and collaboration.

The three-storey Institute will bring together the early phase cancer trials team at the current Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre and the late phase oncology and haematology research team, creating a unique environment where leading scientists, clinicians, industry partners and entrepreneurs can work side-by-side.

By strengthening the connection between research and patient care, it will accelerate the development of pioneering treatments and ensure more patients benefit from the latest advances in cancer medicine.

The new facility will allow teams to expand their work in cellular therapies, advanced imaging, radiotherapy and digital technologies, while providing the flexibility needed to support future breakthroughs.

Professor Ruth Plummer MBE, Director of the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre and Professor of Experimental Cancer Medicine at Newcastle University, said: “This generous grant from the Wolfson Foundation will enable us to take a huge step forward towards completing the Sir Bobby Robson Institute.

“Ultimately, it will allow us to deliver more clinical trials that will benefit cancer patients now and in the future, and we’re very grateful to the Wolfson Foundation for their support.

“We can calculate the progress of cancer research but it’s impossible to quantify the hope clinical trials can bring. The new institute will aim for excellence in research and make a real difference to cancer treatments.”

Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation, said: “The collaboration between Newcastle University and the Northern Centre for Cancer Care has already produced exciting new cancer therapies, adopted widely in the UK and internationally.

“The Sir Bobby Robson Institute will give these partners the ideal platform to expand and accelerate clinical trials. We are delighted to join other donors in helping this project come to life – a fitting tribute to a favourite son of the North East.”

Advancing life-saving cancer research

The Wolfson Foundation, an independent grant-making charity which supports research and education projects across the UK, has joined a group of founding donors supporting the Sir Bobby Robson Institute.

By providing significantly expanded space and specialist research facilities, the Institute will enable expert teams to increase their research activity by as much as 50%.

As part of Newcastle Hospitals, the Institute will support NHS patients from across the North East, North Cumbria and North Yorkshire, bringing cutting-edge cancer research and treatment opportunities closer to home.

Fully funded by The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, part of Newcastle Hospitals Charity, attention now turns to securing the remaining amount needed to complete funding for the project and realise the vision of a world-leading centre for cancer trials research.