Laboratory
The new Unique Cancer Laboratory is the first of its kind in the United Kingdom, and is sited at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, Hampshire in part of the new building complex.
The new laboratory is a Centre for Research and Clinical Excellence that will ensure the highest standard of care for patients with cancer. It has the potential to revolutionise anti-cancer treatment for many forms of cancer and as such will be of great benefit to many patients faced with this terrible disease. It will be something for which cancer patients will be forever grateful, with treatment tailored to each patient’s individual needs. Statistics show that cancer will affect one in three people, no one is exempt. Professor Ian Cree, who is in charge of the new laboratory has spoken in the past at scientific conferences. Portsmouth has a growing status in the field of cancer research and it is intended that in due course we shall pass our knowledge and expertise on to other hospitals for the good of all.
In May 2007 with a lot of help from our supporters our £2 MILLION target was reached. The laboratory will extract cells from some of the cancer tissue and test them to see how they react to anti cancer-drugs. At its simplest, this means finding out whether the cells are killed by the drugs, but it will also use a series of other tests to work out which are the best drugs to use. Further tests will also check to see if the cells might become resistant after several months of treatment. Many of these are new tests, and some of them are being developed here in Portsmouth.
The new laboratory will tailor treatment to individual patients, giving them the best chance possible. The new laboratory is providing an important cancer research facility. Our test results already help to develop new drug regimes and improve the evaluation of new drugs. We also work with other laboratories in hospitals and universities to improve the understanding of cancer. Our main function will be to translate research into practical methods that benefit patients. This facility will be the first in the UK – it is something Portsmouth can be proud of and your support has made it a reality.
Mick Lyons B.E.M.