Gifts left in wills in the past are helping to shape the cancer research making a difference to patients today.
Birmingham has been at the forefront of medical innovation since we received our Royal Charter in 1900, and one of the earliest legacy gifts to the University was to support medical research. Since then, many generous individuals have chosen to support extraordinary cancer breakthroughs by leaving a gift in their will to Birmingham.
In recent years, legacy gifts have played a pivotal role in advancing cancer research at Birmingham and supporting innovative work that is already shaping the future of treatment.
Dr Carmela De Santo, Associate Professor in the Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, leads childhood cancer research focused on developing new immunotherapies for some of the most challenging cancers, including sarcoma. Thanks to a recent legacy gift, her team is exploring how next‑generation CAR T‑cell therapies can be adapted to work more effectively against aggressive tumours, offering new hope to children with limited treatment options. Dr De Santo says:
“This support goes far beyond financial donation — it is a powerful gesture of hope and solidarity. It reminds us why we do what we do and strengthens our commitment to patients and families facing rare cancers.”
Another transformative legacy gift was received last year to support the work of Professor Paul Moss, Professor of Haematology. His research into cancer immunology and immunotherapy is already benefiting from legacy support through the funding of PhD students, helping to accelerate progress in the field.
Professor Moss' work has also been supported through the generosity of Joan Simons, a Birmingham alumna who graduated in Medicine in 1946. Joan’s family previously shared that she would be deeply pleased to see her legacy supporting such meaningful work. Through her generosity, Joan’s legacy continues to shape the future of medicine.
Mum would be delighted and interested in how her legacy is being used. She maintained an interest in medical and science matters beyond her retirement. We in the family are pleased, as a majority of our senior family have succumbed to malignancies.
One in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Birmingham’s research is making a real-world impact that reaches far beyond the city.
Last year we received a remarkable legacy gift from a supporter who, whilst not an alumnus of Birmingham, had built a strong personal connection to our research. The gift enabled Professor Hisham Mehanna, Director of the Institute of Head and Neck Studies and Education, to lead a global collaboration with the International Thyroid Oncology Group. The project is collecting real-world data and exploring how wearable technology can monitor patients during treatment. These findings have the potential to benefit thyroid cancer patients worldwide.
Alongside work made possible by legacy support, Birmingham researchers are advancing new ways to detect cancer earlier and tailor treatments to individual patients. This includes Dr Shivan Sivakumar’s research into personalised cancer treatments designed to stimulate the immune system and prevent recurrence, and Professor Sudha Sundar’s work showing how improved ultrasound techniques could detect ovarian cancer earlier and reduce unnecessary surgeries.
Researchers are also developing kinder and safer approaches to detection and treatment, such as Dr Ruchi Gupta’s ‘lollipop’ test for early mouth cancer detection and Professor Jason Parson’s work on more precise treatments that protect healthy cells.
Together, these advances reflect the breadth of cancer research taking place at Birmingham and the wider environment in which legacy gifts help drive progress and improve patient outcomes.
The University has a strong clinical expertise in pancreatic cancer, a robust academic immunology programme and excellent access to patient samples. With over 150 pancreatic cancer operations happening in Birmingham, it’s the place to do translational research that will ultimately impact patient care and outcomes
The life-saving research happening at Birmingham is only possible thanks to the generosity of donors. With most people having a personal connection to cancer, giving to Birmingham means supporting crucial medical research, knowing that 100% of your gift goes directly to the cause that matters most to you.
To support health research more broadly, we’ve launched the Future Fund (Health Research), an endowment designed to generate permanent, regular income to fund breakthroughs that will improve and save lives across the globe. The Future Fund can be donated to both through legacy and lifetime giving. If you would like to explore this endowment further, please contact Hannah O’Neill (Legacy & Endowment Officer).
By leaving a gift in your will, you can help shape the future of cancer care and medical research. Your legacy can support the next generation of scientists, fund life-saving equipment, and contribute to discoveries that will benefit patients for years to come.
CRUK New Investigator Fellow
Profile of Dr Carmela De Santo, CRUK New Investigator Fellow in the Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy.
Deputy Head of College of Medicine and Health
Professor Moss is Professor of Haematology at the University of Birmingham and Deputy Head of the College of Medicine and Health. He is an NIHR Senior Investigator.
Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor (interdisciplinary research)
Staff profile of Professor Hisham Mehanna, InHANSE, Department of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham
Associate Professor in Oncology
Staff profile for Dr Shivan Sivakumar, Associate Professor in Oncology based in the Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham.
Professor of Gynaecological Cancer
Staff profile for Sudha Sundar, Professor of Gynaecological Cancer, Department of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham
Associate Professor of Analytical Science
Staff profile for Dr Ruchi Gupta - School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham.
Professor of Radiobiology
Staff profile for Professor Jason Parsons, Professor of Radiobiology, Department of Cancer and Genomic Sciences/School of Physics and Astronomy, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham
