Cambridge seeks top cancer trio

Cambridge University is looking to recruit three new professors of cancer research.

The appointments are part of a multimillion-pound drive to establish a world-class centre of excellence to be based at the university.

An unnamed private donor has pledged £2 million to support three new cancer research professors for the next five years as part of a major initiative already supported with more than £60 million of external funding.

An ambitious cancer centre in a new building, bringing numerous cancer research activities together in partnership with the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, is expected to be opened in 2004.

This follows the building of a cancer research centre funded by the Medical Research Council and Hutchinson Whampoa, to be opened next year, and the creation of a centre for genetic epidemiology set up with the Institute of Public Health with money from the Cancer Research Campaign.

The three new professors, to be appointed from next April, would ensure "the requisite leadership" for the raft of initiatives.