In 2008, Sir Bobby Robson created his Foundation with one goal in mind; to find more effective ways to detect and treat cancer. He wanted to help the progression of cancer research including supporting innovative drug trials, something he personally undertook as part of his own treatment.
Working within the NHS and in partnership with other charities and organisations, the Foundation strives to ensure that the impact Sir Bobby aimed to deliver is at the forefront of its plans and ambitions. Whether that is funding talented and committed people into clinical posts or the very latest in cancer treatment technology, our donors are helping to drive the research needed to make a difference.
Now, we want to ensure that our impact and our capacity to accept more patients onto cancer drug trials grows by 50% by building the Sir Bobby Robson Institute, a major step forward in cancer drug discovery and treatment.
Projects funded by the Foundation that are delivering huge impact include:
- A contribution of £985,000 to fund COLO-SPEED, a bowel cancer research and treatment project involving NHS endoscopy units across the country. COLO-SPEED, which stands for Colorectal Cancer Screening Prevention Endoscopy and Early Diagnosis, is delivered by the NHS and Newcastle University and provides the infrastructure and resources to deliver new research efficiently, responsively and quickly. Nine innovative studies are already underway enabled by the project, which has grown to become the largest colorectal cancer research group of its kind in the world.
- A contribution of £892,000 to fund the cutting-edge PROSPECT-NE genome sequencing project in Newcastle, which has now evolved to become TARGET National, a national research study in partnership with The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. Using a simple blood test, it matches patients with the right clinical trial for them by analysing the genetic characteristics of their cancer and identifying any ‘faulty’ genes. This helps inform their suitability to receive an experimental treatment to target specific faults within cancer cells.
- The creation of The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation Clinical Trials Design Team, funded by a £433,838 grant, which helps answer complex questions about cancer by ensuring research is designed in the best way possible. Based at Newcastle University, the team works with cancer researchers, the clinicians and scientists known as ‘investigators,’ to design and develop new trials and collaborating to seek industry and government funding for them.
- A contribution of £1million for four new posts within the Innovative Therapies for Children with Cancer Unit, based at the Great North Children’s Hospital. The team is embedded within the hospital’s clinical service, meaning research is not separate from routine care and nearly all young patients are involved in clinical trial studies. This ensures they receive the most up-to-date therapy possible and, through research, five-year survival rates for children with cancer have improved from about 30% in the 1970s, to around 85% today.
