The Institute focuses on translational cancer research: this is research that could lead to the direct benefit to patients. This includes the understanding of the biology of cancer, understanding the genetic basis of different types of cancer, the identification of novel targets for new drugs, identification of genetic markers that could predict outcome and the development of new therapeutics.

The cancer types where we are building critical mass for internationally competitive research include: childhood cancer; cancers affecting teenagers and young adults; haematological malignancies (including leukaemia and lymphoma); brain cancer; sarcoma and head and neck cancer.

Research themes include: biology of cancer; functions of molecular pathways dysregulated in cancer; genetic and epigenetic abnormalities in cancer; genetic markers predicting outcome and responses to therapy; experimental tumour models and targeted therapeutics.

More information on the Institute activities and research can be found at: www.ucl.ac.uk/cancer

Quality of UCL's Research

UCL is consistently rated among the top four universities in the UK (together with Cambridge, Imperial College and Oxford) and was ranked by Times Higher Education as scoring number 9 in the world. UCL has the largest Biomedical Faculty in Europe. Thomson ISI Essential Science indicators also rank UCL first in Europe for clinical medicine.

UCL has an annual turnover exceeding £650 million. Although a member college of the University of London it is a wholly independent and self-governing institution.