MRC announces £2.9 million investment into furthering cancer research

Today the MRC National Mouse Genetics Network is announcing a multi-million pound backing of mouse genetics for disease modelling. It will capitalise on the UK's international excellence in the biomedical sciences, creating 7 challenge-led research clusters.

The Network brings together experts from across the UK. The Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell will act as the central hub of the Network, sharing access to specialist facilities, resources, data, and training with all other Network members. The partnerships established by the Network will enable integration of basic science research with clinical findings in order to accelerate our understanding of human disease and translation to patient benefit.

 MRC MouseNetwork graphics

Prof Owen Sansom, Network Director & Director of the CRUK Beatson Institute:
"We're excited to announce this first set of research clusters forming the MRC National Mouse Genetics Network and to synergising our efforts to deliver impactful preclinical science through comprehensive sharing of data, resources, and expertise."

Dr Seth Coffelt, Prof Jen Morton and Prof Daniel Murphy are members of the Cancer Cluster led by Prof Karen Blyth at the CRUK Beatson Institute/University of Glasgow and Prof Louis Chesler at The Institute of Cancer Research, London. The Cancer Cluster is receiving ~£2.9 million of MRC investment and aims to use complex state-of-the-art mouse models to improve the understanding and treatment of cancer. The next generation of modelling will better replicate the complexity of the disease and more accurately predict therapeutic outcomes through the use of deep molecular phenotyping and novel strategies for generation of sophisticated mouse models which reflect all stages of disease progression.

Prof Karen Blyth, Co-Lead Cancer Cluster MRC Mouse Genetics Network:
"We are delighted to be part of the MRC National Mouse Genetics Network and have a fantastic team of scientists and clinicians within our Cancer Cluster eager to collaborate with the network and harness the opportunities this affords us for accelerating cancer discoveries to benefit patients"

Cancer Cluster Fig1