The University of Sheffield
Sheffield Cancer Research Centre
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About Us

Integrating Cancer Research Across the City

  • Cancer research in Sheffield is well established, with strong basic sciences and clinical research linking into a successful Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre.
  • We have an international profile in research into the tumour microenvironment including the fields of vascular biology, inflammation, and bone oncology.
  • Our basic cancer research includes activities in DNA damage, cell cycle control and cell signalling pathways of the highest quality.
  • The University of Sheffield is also internationally recognized for its strengths in developmental biology and stem cell research, which augment our current cancer research activities.

The Sheffield Centre is distinct in terms of scope and research expertise from any other research grouping within the United Kingdom and complements the other world class CR-UK centres across the country, pushing new discoveries into the clinic faster than ever before, and forging collaborative links between fund-raisers and cancer researchers within the locality.

We have the expertise, critical mass, research organisation, track record and unique areas of strength to be a highly successful CR-UK Centre in partnership with our existing research funders.

We very much look forward to an exciting time for cancer research in Sheffield and trust you will share and support our vision.

Professor Robert Coleman
Director, Sheffield Cancer Research Centre

Sheffield and Region Cancer Statistics

Cancer incidence and death rates in the region are amongst the highest in the country.

Overall around 27,800 people are diagnosed with cancer in Yorkshire and Humberside each year, and 13,700 die from the disease. (Statistics are for the Yorkshire and the Humber government office region for 2007-2009). Notably, the incidence of malignant melanoma skin cancer has nearly tripled among 15-34 year olds in Yorkshire the region since the mid 1980’s, significantly higher than the average rates for in England for this age group.
In Sheffield around 2,800 people are diagnosed with cancer each year, and 1,400 die from the disease. Again, these figures are significantly higher than average, accounting for population size. The most commonly diagnosed cancers in Sheffield, in order, are: lung, breast, bowel and prostate cancer. The incidence of lung cancer is significantly higher than the national average and is probably due to the city’s history of heavy industry and higher than average smoking rates.
The city population is 534,500 (2008 est.) The wider Sheffield Urban Area, which extends beyond the city proper, has a population of 640,720. The regional clinical network for Sheffield’s hospitals extends across a population of approx. 1.8 million with delivery of cancer care where appropriate through district hospitals in Barnsley, Rotherham, Doncaster, Bassetlaw and Chesterfield.