SPECIAL REPORT: Cancer research at risk because of Covid-19
Charities are warning there will be fewer trials, drug discoveries and innovations to help patients beat cancer.
Last updated 12th Aug 2020
The scientists behind life-saving cancer research say future treatments are in jeopardy because of a huge blow to vital funding.
Charities are warning there will be fewer trials, drug discoveries and innovations to help patients beat cancer.
Cancer Research UK alone are expecting a staggering £160 million drop in income over the coming months because of coronavirus - that's around 30% of their yearly income.
It's being put down to major fundraising events like Race for Life and the London Marathon being cancelled because of the pandemic.
Last year more than £30 million was invested into cancer research across the North West, including at centres like The Christie in Manchester.
'We will have a lot less to spend on beating cancer'
Charities say it's a difficult, but unavoidable decision to cut funding because of the impact it will have discoveries, trials and therapeutic and diagnostic innovations to help patients.
It's predicted it will prevent future breakthroughs for people with cancer and will have a massive impact on scientists and research infrastructure that have taken decades to build.
Professor Charles Swanton is Cancer Research UK's Chief Clinician and has already seen the significant impact coronavirus is having on their work.
"Whichever you look across our research portfolio, coronavirus has had a major impact on what we can do today.
"It will have an impact on our ability to get clinical trials to patients in good time, and offer patients what we hope will be the active treatments of the future.
"The money is the fuel for that engine and unfortunately without the money the engine just doesn't operate.
"We are focused on improving outcomes for our patients. We just desperately need to generate the funding streams to enable the research to continue, the clinical trials to develop and the drugs of the future to be offered to patients within the NHS."
Cancer Research UK are working tirelessly to urge the Government to support their life-saving research, and say they will continue to make progress for people affected by cancer.