About the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute

The CRUK Manchester Institute is a leading cancer research institute within The University of Manchester, spanning the whole spectrum of cancer research - from investigating the molecular and cellular basis of cancer, to translational research and the development of therapeutics.

We are one of Cancer Research UK’s core-funded institutes which means the majority of our research is supported by the public, something which is always at the front of our minds. We are incredibly grateful for this support and offer fundraisers the opportunity to visit the Institute on our open days.

The Institute comprises over 350 Postdoctoral Scientists, Clinical Fellows, Scientific Officers, Operational and Technical staff, Postgraduate Research Students and Visiting Fellows and we pride ourselves on being as much a community as a workplace. We have cutting edge laboratory facilities and outstanding core services, including genomic sequencing, confocal microscopy, bioinformatics, histology, and access to mass-spectrometry based proteomics.

Our new research facility supports our ambitions of integrated basic and clinical translational cancer research. It brings together a critical mass of scientists and clinicians on The Christie NHS Foundation Trust site to collaborate and accelerate progress for patients through integrated advances in the prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer. The new 9-storey Paterson building, opened in Spring 2023, contains our world leading Cancer Biomarker Centre, provides state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, and alongside the Oglesby Cancer Research Building makes us one of the top cancer research centres in the world.

The Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute is at the heart of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC). The MCRC is a virtual partnership formed in 2006 in order to consolidate links between The University of Manchester, Cancer Research UK and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. The Christie is the largest single site cancer hospital in Europe, treating more than 60,000 patients per year. Much of our research is driven by access to the MCRC Tissue Biobank, a resource of more than 150,000 samples. We also work in close collaboration with research groups from The University of Manchester’s Division of Cancer Sciences many of whom are located in neighbouring labs and actively participate in our seminar, research and education programmes. We also have strong collaborative links with other University departments including pharmacy and The Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, through to materials and computer sciences.