Research Aims and Rationale

Linking the laboratory to the clinic

The fundamental principle for research at the Cambridge Research Institute is to link the laboratory to the clinic, thus driving the development of new approaches to screening, prevention and treatment.

The research is built around three research themes:

1. A core of world-class basic cancer biology with particular focus on:
   • the biology of normal epithelial tissues and the early stages of cancer development
   • the stem cells of epithelia
   • the interactions between emerging cancer cells and normal cells
   • the mechanisms of gene control and their disruption in cancer
   
   
   
2. New technology-based research, specifically molecular imaging, genomics, and bioinformatics and bio-molecular computing.
   
   
3. Clinical research, which includes teams focussed on specific cancers; on novel and more effective design of 'experimental medicine' based clinical trials; and on population-based studies on screening and prevention.

These clinical and basic research themes, supported by the core facilities, intersect (see diagram below) and tap into readily accessible clinical resources provided through Addenbrooke's Hospital.