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Seòmar agus comataidhean

Leading Scottish Cancer Institute Awarded Funding of up to £123 Million over Seven Years

  • Submitted by: Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.
  • Date lodged: Thursday, 21 September 2023
  • Motion reference: S6M-10539

That the Parliament welcomes the funding of up to £123 million over the next seven years that has been awarded to the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute (formerly known as the Beatson Institute); recognises that this constitutes the largest ever single investment by Cancer Research UK (CRUK) in Scotland; acknowledges that the funding will underpin long-term, cutting-edge discovery research exploring how cancers develop, grow and spread, as well as examining how the immune system can be harnessed to combat the disease; further acknowledges that it will also support major studies into specific types of cancer which have a big impact on Scotland’s population, including liver, pancreatic, bowel and lung; understands that, in recognition of the success of the institute as a national centre of excellence, and to enable wider global recognition, the Beatson Institute will assume the new name of Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute; agrees with the reported comments of Professor Owen Sansom, who leads the institute, which is based within the University of Glasgow’s Garscube campus in Bearsden, that this will provide an unprecedented vote of confidence in Scotland’s scientific prowess;  notes that 2022-23 figures show that CRUK spent nearly £33 million on research in Scotland and that for every £1 invested in cancer research, £2.80 is returned in wider economic benefits; understands that CRUK has a very strong research footprint in the Scottish life science sector through a number of infrastructure projects in universities across Scotland, including the CRUK Scotland Institute, CRUK Scotland Centre, Radnet Centre of Excellence and Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres in Edinburgh and Glasgow (ECMCs); further understands that these are part of a network of 17 ECMCs across the UK, delivering clinical trials of new experimental treatments in patients, in conjunction with local NHS facilities, as well as funding research teams at universities across Scotland including Stirling, Strathclyde, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, and wishes scientists and support staff at the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute continued success in their future research and studies.


Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Alexander Burnett, Jackson Carlaw, Foysol Choudhury, Sharon Dowey, Pam Duncan-Glancy, Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Kenneth Gibson, Pam Gosal, Jamie Greene, Dr. Sandesh Gulhane (Registered interest) , Jamie Halcro Johnston, Emma Harper, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Bill Kidd, Douglas Lumsden, Roz McCall, Stuart McMillan, Edward Mountain, Douglas Ross, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Paul Sweeney, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle