Royal seal of approval for Breakthrough Breast Cancer's world-class research unit in Edinburgh

Jun 2 2008

A pioneering new breast cancer research unit set up by leading UK charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer and the University of Edinburgh will be officially opened on Thursday 5 June 2008 by HRH The Prince of Wales (also known as The Duke of Rothesay while travelling in Scotland), the charity's Patron.

The Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Unit at The University of Edinburgh aims to improve breast cancer treatment and ensure patients are treated in the most appropriate and effective way for their particular type of breast cancer. In Scotland 4,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.

The Breakthrough Research Unit, Edinburgh will bring together some of the best Scottish-based scientists and doctors to develop a centre of excellence for world-class breast cancer research. It is based at University of Edinburgh laboratories, within the Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, and sited next to the Western General Hospital's Breast Unit.

It marks Breakthrough Breast Cancer's commitment to, and expansion of, its work in Scotland. The charity is dedicated to tackling breast cancer through research, campaigning and education and needs to raise at least £25 million a year to support this vital work across the UK. There are many different ways to offer support - for more information please visit www.breakthrough.org.uk.

The unit's location will help ensure laboratory results are turned into direct benefits for patients as quickly as possible - a 'bench to bedside' approach strongly advocated by Breakthrough Breast Cancer. HRH The Duke of Rothesay will tour the unit accompanied by its director, Professor David Harrison and clinical lead Mr Mike Dixon.

Mike Dixon says; "Being a breast surgeon and also working in the laboratory, I know how important it is to translate laboratory findings into direct benefits for patients and this type of research allows us to do this quickly and effectively. I am looking forward to explaining to His Royal Highness how our research will help to make a difference to the thousands of women diagnosed with breast cancer each year in Scotland and the rest of the UK"

David Harrison adds; "We are delighted to welcome His Royal Highness to the opening of the Breakthrough Research Unit, Edinburgh. This facility marks a significant step forward for breast cancer research in Scotland. By bringing together some of the best scientific and clinical minds in the country, we will be able to improve treatment available for women and ensure patients are able to reap the benefits of our work as quickly as possible."

Research at the Breakthrough Research Unit, Edinburgh will focus on improving treatment for hormone-sensitive breast cancer, the most common form of the disease. Women with this type of tumour are usually treated with hormone therapies such as tamoxifen however, not everyone benefits from these treatments and many women experience the problem of drug resistance when their treatment stops working. The aim of the Breakthrough Research Unit, Edinburgh is ultimately to ensure women are treated in the most appropriate and effective way for their particular type of breast cancer, overcoming or avoiding the problem of drug resistance.

Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, says; "Breast cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK. In 2004, nearly 4,000 women were diagnosed with the disease in Scotland. If these women stood on each other's shoulders, they would stand nearly 5 times the height of Ben Nevis - a very sobering thought. Breakthrough Breast Cancer is investing £4.6 million over five years to establish this unit, highlighting our commitment to create a future free from the fear of breast cancer. We are honoured that our Patron is able to join us today on an important milestone for our charity's work."

Alison Walker, from Edinburgh, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 and is a member of Breakthrough's Campaigns & Advocacy Network. She says;

"I'm really pleased that Breakthrough Breast Cancer is opening this new research unit at the hospital where I received my treatment for the disease. With so much still to be done to discover its causes, develop new treatments and make sure everyone affected by cancer has the best possible care, it's really important that scientists in the lab and doctors in the hospital can work together closely so patients can benefit from new advances as quickly as possible."