The launch of the new Queen Mary Centre for Cancer Screening, Prevention and Early Diagnosis on 16 January heralds a step forward for world leading cancer research and education. Located in the Wolfson Institute of Population Health, CCSPED is being co-led by Professor Stephen Duffy with Professor Peter Sasieni, who has transferred his research team and the Cancer Research UK-funded Cancer Prevention Trials Unit to Queen Mary from King’s College London.
A launch event attended by distinguished national and international cancer researchers welcomed the return of Professor Sasieni and his team from Kings’, and celebrated the illustrious careers and achievements of Professors Stephen Duffy and Jack Cuzick, who established the original cancer centre and laid the foundations for future excellence. WIPH Director Professor Fiona Walter announced the new Centre structure, to consist of an Early Diagnosis Unit, Screening Prevention and Epidemiology Unit, and Cancer Behavioural Science Group, with a cross-cutting CRUK Cancer Prevention Trials Unit. WIPH research teams then set out their vision for the way forward, with emphasis on the importance of embedding diversity and inclusivity at the heart of research, and on translating findings into impact for real populations, locally, nationally, and across the world.
The event also recognised and celebrated the distinguished careers of Professors Jack Cuzick and Stephen Duffy, with an array of world-renowned cancer research experts testifying to the value and breadth of their work which, over many years, has achieved international recognition for Queen Mary and the Institute.
Professor Fiona Walter said:
It has been a huge pleasure to celebrate the launch of the Wolfson Institute of Population Health’s Centre for Cancer Screening, Prevention and Early Diagnosis. We have been delighted to welcome Peter Sasieni, Jo Waller and their teams to join our existing group of international experts to create a globally leading centre for early cancer detection. This is providing a major step change in our research and teaching, and we are particularly proud of our combined strength in Cancer Behavioural Science. We are also proud of our two new emeritus professors, Stephen Duffy and Jack Cuzick, and we really enjoyed celebrating their distinguished careers.
Professor Peter Sasieni said:
We are excited to be establishing the Centre for Cancer Screening, Prevention and Early Diagnosis, and to relaunch the Cancer Research UK Cancer Prevention Trials Unit (CPTU) at QMUL. CPTU is one of only seven trials units funded by CRUK, and the only one focusing on trials in cancer screening and prevention. The move to QM enables new collaborations with a wealth of statistical expertise, primary care research, and health economics from within WIPH, and we see a very bright future for cancer screening, prevention, and early diagnosis research at QM. The launch event, with legendary researchers flying in from around the world and many of the country’s leading cancer screening, prevention and early diagnosis researchers in attendance, provided a fantastic springboard for our new centre. With the retirement of Professors Stephen Duffy and Jack Cuzick, we have big shoes to fill. We are ready for the challenge.