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World Cancer Day

Changing how the world delivers patient-centred cancer care

Researchers at the University of Birmingham are driving forward smarter, safer and kinder ways to detect and treat cancer. Advances in personalised medicine, emerging technologies and innovative approaches such as Boron Neutron Capture Therapy are helping our researchers reshape the future of cancer care. 

Changing how the world reshapes the future of cancer care

Cancer affects one out of every two people in the UK during their lifetime. The stage at which cancer is diagnosed has a profound impact on prognosis - those identified at stages 1 and 2 have a better chance of survival than those detected later.

Cancer research at the University of Birmingham

Here you’ll find a selection of stories showcasing how University of Birmingham expertise is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible - improving outcomes and offering hope to thousands of patients every year.

  • Advancing oral cancer detection with saliva based testing

    Led by Dr Ruchi Gupta, researchers are creating a saliva based “lollipop” test to detect oral cancer earlier and more comfortably - a gentle, non invasive alternative to biopsies with potential across multiple diseases.

    Explore our saliva test research

  • Adding antibody treatment to chemo for children with rare cancer

    A trial coordinated by the Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit (CRCTU) shows that adding an antibody therapy to standard chemotherapy significantly improves outcomes for children with high risk neuroblastoma, marking a major step forward in paediatric cancer care.

    Read the BEACON trial results

  • Best diagnostic test for ovarian cancer in premenopausal women

    Research led by Professor Sudha Sundar shows the IOTA ADNEX ultrasound detects 9 in 10 ovarian cancers, far surpassing the current NHS test, and could enable earlier, more accurate diagnosis for younger women.

    View ovarian cancer study

  • Pancreatic cancer immune map reveals new targets

    Led by Dr Shivan Sivakumar, Birmingham and Oxford researchers have mapped the pancreatic cancer immune landscape, uncovering new targets for precision immunotherapy and revealing why current treatments often fall short.

    Read about this pancreatic study

  • Developing precise radiotherapy for cancer treatment

    Researchers led by Professor Jason Parsons are advancing proton, helium ion and neutron based radiotherapy to better target tumours while protecting healthy tissue, offering hope for people with hard to treat cancers.

    Explore our radiotherapy research

  • Stay connected

    Get updates on the latest research, news, and developments from University of Birmingham.