Chris Huhne
Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh
Chris Huhne MP highlights pioneering cancer research
Eastleigh MP and Secretary of State Chris Huhne met with Cancer Research UK scientists in Southampton last week to learn about the world class research taking place in the region.
Chris Huhne MP discussing the region's ground-breaking cancer research with Dr Edd James, a Lecturer in Cancer Immunology.
The MP for Eastleigh visited the Somers Cancer Research Building at Southampton General Hospital where he witnessed at first hand the range of groundbreaking scientific research currently being carried out by scientists and doctors who are part of the Southampton Cancer Research UK Centre.
Chris Huhne MP said: “It is brilliant to see some of the great research being conducted here in Southampton. It showed just why it is so crucial to support the vital research which could make such a difference to the 41,000 people who are diagnosed with cancer in the South East every year.”
The Southampton Cancer Research UK Centre is a network bringing together scientists, doctors and nurses in the area. They are using the latest research advances to improve treatment for cancer patients in and around Southampton and across the UK.
The Centre is a partnership between Cancer Research UK, the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.
It has an international reputation for research into immunotherapy, and researchers are also focusing on cancer genetics – hunting the gene faults that increase an individual’s risk of cancer – as well as investigating ways to improve cancer surgery.
Professor Peter Johnson, Director of the Southampton Centre and Cancer Research UK’s Chief Clinician, said: “I was really pleased to welcome Chris to the Centre to show him how our research into immunotherapy is helping to harness the body’s immune system to target cancer, an exciting opportunity that we hope will make many more immunotherapy treatments available to future cancer patients.”
“It was also an exciting opportunity to show the Centre’s renewed emphasis on the importance of surgical treatment of cancer and how we can improve these vital treatments.”
Southampton has a strong track record in training outstanding cancer scientists, doctors and surgeons – a tradition that is set to continue and grow. The Centre provides the right environment for training the next generation of experts, to ensure that Southampton remains at the forefront of the fight against cancer.
Thanks to the generosity of its supporters, Cancer Research UK spent over £4 million in Southampton last year on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research.
Cancer survival rates have doubled in the last forty years and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress.