Welcome to our Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital newsletter

Issue 10

Welcome to our spring edition of the newsletter, and our first one of the year. The start of 2025 has marked a big milestone for the hospital, with pre-construction works beginning on site. We are delighted to see excavators on the ground, removing 18,000 cubic metres of soil from the raised former car park, all in readiness for the archaeological work. This programme of work will continue until the autumn, so that we are ready to start the main build in 2026.  

We are also halfway through the fourth RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) design stage. During this stage we are looking at the technical detail of the design, such as the fixtures and fittings in the building, the placement of signs for navigating the hospital and the landscaping for the central outside space. This RIBA stage also enables us to ensure we are compliant with Building Regulations and the requirements of the new Building Safety Act. You can read more about this work in the section below.

Beyond design and construction, in January it was confirmed that we will be in wave one of the Government’s New Hospital Programme, which means the hospital remains on track to be built by 2029. Our Full Business Case is also being finalised before submission to NHS England and the Government later this year.   

As we move towards building this ground-breaking hospital, one that will change the story of cancer, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of our supporters, staff and patients. We look forward to you all being part of another busy and exciting year ahead for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital.

We are halfway through the fourth RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) design stage. With our preferred construction partner, Laing O’Rourke, the project team has reviewed a comprehensive range of design packages, which cover what the hospital will look like and the engineering behind it.

Meet the people involved in this design stage and see what it’s like to design a hospital that will change the story of cancer.

Toks Odesanmi is a CUH patient who is living with sickle cell disease (SCD), a lifelong and serious health condition that requires ongoing hospital treatment. 

She lives in Colchester and has been treated at Addenbrooke’s Hospital for a number of years, and has needed extensive surgery including a liver transplant, hip replacements, ankle fusion and laser eye treatment.  

Toks keeps her symptoms under control by having regular blood transfusions every eight weeks, to reduce symptoms and prevent any further organ damage. 

“Growing up I only saw it as a curse as it limited me a lot. Now that I am in my 50's, I appreciate the good that comes with the bad," said Toks. 

Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital (CCRH) will be a new specialist hospital that will treat patients for cancer and non-cancer haematological conditions, such as Sickle Cell, TTP and Haemophilia.

For non-cancer haematology patients, clinics will stay on the main Addenbrooke's site, but day case, apheresis and emergency or planned admission will be situated in the new hospital. 

We are currently running a survey for non-cancer haematology patients to find out how we can make CCRH as comfortable and inclusive for them as possible.

You can read more about Toks's story on our website.

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, confirmed on the 20th of January that Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital remains on track to be built by 2029 following the Government’s recent review of the New Hospital Pogramme. The hospital will be included in wave one of this programme.
 

"We are delighted the Government has decided that our ambitious plans for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital can proceed. This new NHS hospital will change the story of cancer, benefiting cancer patients from the East of England, the UK and internationally." - Baroness Sally Morgan, Chair of CUH

Read more about this announcement.

Later in January, the Chancellor also announced that delivering Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital remains a top priority for the UK Government’s plans to unlock the potential of the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor, and to kick-start the UK’s economy.

Visit our website for more on the Chancellor's growth speech.

As you read in the introduction of this newsletter, we are delighted that pre-construction works are now underway for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, with the site being prepared for construction.  

R G Carter has been appointed to deliver the pre-construction works, which includes the installation of hoardings, land excavation and excavating the land ready for an archaeological dig. Construction of the main hospital is due to begin in 2026.  

You can read more about the start of pre-construction works on our website. 

Andrey Jones is the first patient to have taken part in a research study testing a new scanning method to improve the detection of ovarian cancer.  

Differentiating tumours from healthy tissues in patients with high grade serous ovarian cancer can be difficult with standard medical scans. 

Researchers in Cancer Research UK's Advanced Cancer Imaging Programme are evaluating using a new imaging technique to identify ovarian cancer cells wherever they have spread throughout the body. Knowing how many tumours there are, how big they are and where they are located will help doctors plan the best treatment for patients. 

Read more about Audrey's story on the CRUK website.

Jo Field-Rayner, a radiology Clinical Trials Manager, explains how her role helps with cancer research and patient care. 

Cambridge scientists have uncovered the mechanism behind how aspirin could reduce the metastasis of some cancers by stimulating the immune system.

“It was a Eureka moment", said Dr Jie Yang in the Department of Pathology at the University of Cambridge.

He added: "Aspirin has the potential to be less expensive than antibody-based therapies, and therefore more accessible globally." 

Read more on the University of Cambridge website.

Precision Breast Cancer Symposium 2025

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 09:00 - 17:00 GMT
Old Divinity School, St John's College

Join Cambridge Research UK Cambridge Centre and University of Cambridge colleagues at the Precision Breast Cancer Symposium 2025 for the latest advancements in breast cancer research in Cambridge and beyond.