Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust has launched a new health research centre designed to advance treatments for women’s cancers and pre-term birth.
The Parasol Foundation Centre for Women’s Health and Cancer Research, funded by a £2.25 million donation from Ms Ruth Monicka Parasol of the Parasol Foundation and supported by Imperial Health Charity, will provide new ‘radical’ surgical techniques, alongside ‘pioneering research’, to improve treatments for women affected by life-threatening conditions.
According to the trust, the new centre will support research in three key areas, which includes: developing enhanced care and treatments for women’s cancers; understanding the health impacts of pre-term birth; investigating the impact of gender on career progression for female academics in science and healthcare.
Additionally, the centre will open up a new care pathway for women with gynaecological cancers, in which the Parasol Foundation will help purchase new ‘innovative’ surgical equipment to support research efforts, the trust says.
Professor Katie Urch, Divisional Director of Surgery, Cardiovascular and Cancer, said of the new research centre: “The opening of this new centre marks a major milestone for the trust and a significant moment in our ongoing efforts to learn more about life-threatening women’s cancers.”
Ruth Parasol, Principal Benefactress, Parasol Foundation, commented: “I’m delighted to fund this new centre to help improve treatments for women affected by life-threatening conditions. Our partnership with Imperial College Healthcare and Imperial Health Charity will also unlock opportunities for vital women-led research with the creation of new research fellowships for women’s cancers and pre-term birth.”
Ian Lush, Chief Executive, added: “This important programme of research will help our clinical colleagues go above and beyond in developing the best possible care and treatments for women living with gynaecological cancers and those affected by pre-term birth.”
In other news, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS FT are using new equipment to help breast cancer patients focus on their breathing during radiotherapy.
