The National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) has announced its closure following 22 years of cancer research.
The announcement, which came in the form of a letter from Fiona Driscoll, the chair of the NCRI, noted the “mix of pride and regret” felt by the board regarding the closure.
Initially established to “formalise connections between organisations funding research into cancer, in order to identify where cancer research was most needed”, the letter states that much of the NCRI’s original scope has now been taken on by partners.
The letter also notes that “uncertainty in the wider economic and research environment has had an impact”, and that consultations with stakeholders on the NCRI’s operating and funding model had not presented a plan which “would deliver long term viability for the organisation”.
The board will now be taking actions to wind the charity down, securing assets and ensuring that all financial, data and IP requirements are taken care of. The letter also revealed that the board hoped to be able to pay forward some of the charity’s resources into other charitable and research purposes.
