September 14, 2007 - With breast cancer affecting over 44,000 women and 300 men each year in the UK, the breast cancer charity, Breakthrough Breast Cancer revealed plans to open three new dedicated research units, which will investigate ways to prevent breast cancer and improve diagnosis and treatments for the disease.
Breakthrough Breast Cancer needs to raise at least 25 million euro each year for the next three years to support its vital research, campaigning and education work. Breast cancer is reportedly now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK yet a recent study found survival rates in the UK to be among the worst in Europe.
The Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Units will be based in Edinburgh, Manchester and London and will each focus on a specific area of breast cancer research. In Scotland, the new unit will aim to improve and develop treatments for breast cancer. In Manchester, the team will focus on developing new ways to detect and prevent early breast cancer and the new London unit will investigate a poorly understood type of breast cancer called basal-like breast cancer, which is more common amongst young women and those of African origin.
Each unit will have strong links with a major cancer hospital or breast unit and research institute or university. The units will complement work already taking place at the internationally renowned Breakthrough Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre based in the Mary-Jean Mitchell Green Building at The Institute of Cancer Research in London, which was the UK's first dedicated breast cancer research facility.
For more information: www.breakthrough.org.uk
January 29, 2026 
