A Year in Review: 2024

Funding New Research

Cancer Research Wales exists to support the very best research into cancer research in Wales and we added some fantastic projects to our portfolio this year.

Early in the year we announced the successful applications to our Pritchard & Moore Scholarship scheme. This scholarship was set up to honour the legacies of Professors John Pritchard and John Moore who both served Cancer Research Wales for many years, as well as having distinguished research and medical careers.

Two projects were chosen to be awarded the inaugural scholarships. The first, based at Velindre Cancer Centre, is using automated software to audit radiotherapy planning around the UK, with the goal of driving improvement programmes based on their evidence. 

A project at Swansea University is developing new drugs for the most aggressive form of breast cancer, which will work in combination with radiotherapy to enhance the effectiveness of treatment for these poor prognosis patients.

This year we also announced funding for several other new projects, across a broad range of topics. 

Chief among these was a project titled ‘MRI Assessment of Tumour Microstructure in Glioblastoma’, which is employing the world-class technology at Cardiff University to scan brain tumours in more detail than has previously been possible, to understand how different treatments affect patients.

We also funded four innovations grants in 2024 – these projects support preliminary and early phase research. The awarded projects this year cover a variety of research areas, including blood tests for gynaecological and lung cancers, cutting-edge tissue imaging during surgery and understanding the prostate cancer microenvironment.

The Brain Tumour Research Initiative

In spring 2024, we launched our Brain Tumour Research Initiative, a hugely exciting development both for the charity and Wales.

Brain tumours remain stubbornly difficult to treat and survival rates have shown little improvement over recent decades. There is a real need for targeted research that can deliver genuine improvements for patients.

Our Brain Tumour Research Initiative will see us investing up to £1 million per year into research on brain tumours. The research scope of the Initiative encompasses five main themes that range from fundamental understanding of brain tumours through to palliative care and quality of life studies.

We hope to make Wales a leader in brain tumour research. By bringing together and supporting scientists, clinicians and neurosurgeons from across the country, we aim to drive forward discovery and innovation, making a real impact for patients and their families.

We will be announcing the first projects funded by the Brain Tumour Research Initiative in early 2025, so keep an eye out for this.

A Summer of Fun

Cancer Research Wales relies on the generosity of our supporters to be able to fund our amazing research, so it is vital that we tell people about our work, both to reach new audiences and also to tell our supporters about the impact their fundraising makes.

This year, we were thrilled to return to both the Royal Welsh Show and the National Eisteddfod which are both highlights in the calendar for many people in Wales and beyond. 

It was lovely to see large numbers of people engaging with our stands – our ‘Hula for Hope’ activity proved a real hit – and we had lots of interesting and useful conversations.

Laboratory Tour

In November, we were lucky enough to host five Members of the Senedd to a laboratory tour in Swansea. The event was co-hosted with CanSense, a university spin-out company based on the Raman Blood Test that we have been funding for over 10 years. 

Guests were treated to talks about the work of Cancer Research Wales and CanSense, followed by guided tours of the laboratories.

Talks to Community Groups

Over the last 12 months, we’ve had the chance to present our research to hundreds of people across Wales at community groups, schools and more – these talks are always well-received and it’s inspiring to see how much our work interests and engages people of all ages. 

We’re always on the lookout for more people to speak to, so please get in touch with us if your club or group are interested in hearing more about Cancer Research Wales.

The Next Generation of Researchers

A key element of our work is providing opportunities for researchers in Wales to develop themselves and their research. This includes those taking their first steps on their research journey by undertaking a PhD. 

This year we were delighted that three of our funded PhD students completed their studies and are now fully fledged scientists. Congratulations to Dr Théo Morin, Dr Alicia Teijeira-Crespo and Dr Angelos Damo!

Creating a Brighter Future for Cancer Patients in Wales

We live in challenging times and the NHS is under ever-increasing pressure – ultimately it is patients who lose out. At Cancer Research Wales, we believe in the power of research to deliver innovations and solutions that can save lives and give cancer patients here in Wales the best possible cancer journey.

As we look towards 2025, we hope that you will continue to support us in our work. From our events to our shops, from a gift in your Will to sharing our social media posts, there are many ways in which you can help us create a brighter future for cancer patients in Wales.

From all of us Cancer Research Wales, we wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy 2025.