Director of New Cancer Immunology Centre Named

Southampton’s new Centre for Cancer Immunology, being built by the city’s University and destined to be the first dedicated cancer immunology centre in the UK, will be directed by Professor Tim Elliott.

Currently the Chair of Experimental Oncology at the University, Professor Elliott will play a lead role in the next phase of the project and the campaign to raise £25 million to fund its development at the Southampton General Hospital.

He comments: “The University has made a number of advances in tumour immunology and immunotherapy over the past 40 years, with a reputation for its ‘bench to bedside’ results. I am thrilled to be able to continue that research and take it forward into this innovative centre, which will go a long way in helping many more people with cancer become free of the disease.”

Expected to open in 2017, the centre will double the number of people working on cancer immunology and ultimately double the number of patients taking part in clinical trials.

Professor Iain Cameron, Dean of Medicine at the University of Southampton, says: “Professor Elliott is an internationally renowned scientist in the field of cancer immunology and we are delighted that he will be leading this ground-breaking project for the University.

“Harnessing the power of the immune system is one of the most promising areas of new cancer treatment, and our new centre will really make a difference to both our scientific understanding and its practical application in the clinic.”

For more information about the new Centre or fundraising campaign visit www.southampton.ac.uk