DNA Damage
The dramatic discovery that the basic cause of cancer is damage to DNA.
Link Between Smoking and Lung Cancer
The identification of the potential link between smoking and lung cancer which was subsequently confirmed.
Turning normal cells into tumour cells
The elucidation of the mechanism by which RAS, one of the most commonly activated genes in cancer, turns normal cells into tumour cells.
Isolation of the Breast Cancer Gene
The isolation of the breast cancer gene, BRCA2, which enabled families with a history of the disease to be assessed for future risk, and laid the groundwork for the development of novel forms of therapy for BRCA-associated cancers.
Characterisation of Cancer Gene
The characterisation of the cancer gene BRAF, leading to an accelerated drug discovery programme for the treatment of malignant melanoma and other tumours.
Design and Synthesis of Worldwide Anti-cancer Drugs
The synthesis of busulfan, chlorambucil and melphalan and the development of carboplatin, important anti-cancer drugs that are used worldwide.
Recent Drug Discovery Success
Over the past five years, 14 preclinical candidates have been discovered and six progressed into Phase I clinical trials; while approval was secured for our prostate cancer drug abiraterone in the US and is pending in Europe.
Modern High Precision Radiotherapy Techniques
Making major contributions to modern high precision radiotherapy techniques, improving cancer control and reducing risk of toxicity.
Licensing Three Novel Series of Anti-cancer Drugs
The licensing of three novel series of anti cancer drugs to major pharmaceutical companies in the last three years; HSP90 inhibitors to Novartis, PKB inhibitors to AstraZeneca and Pl3Kinase inhibitors to Genentech
Most Effective HEI in the UK
Consistently being the most effective Higher Education Institution (HEI) in the UK in terms of the impact on our scientific peers of our published work in biomedical sciences.
