Supporting the ICT
The Institute of Cancer Therapeutics (ICT) is at the heart of advancing our understanding and ability to treat cancer - in Yorkshire, the UK, and around the world. Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality in the UK, and the ICT is one of only a handful of centres capable of taking new and potentially life-saving anticancer treatments from concept to clinic.
It is also an important training ground for the cancer researchers of tomorrow, serving as a base for PhD students and postgraduate students studying our MSc/MRes programmes in Cancer Pharmacology, Cancer Drug Discovery, and Drug Toxicology & Safety Pharmacology.
Our breakthroughs and successes here at Bradford are made possible by the generosity of our supporters and partners. We hope that you will consider joining us as we embark on the next generation of cancer research.
Historic Success
The ICT has a long history of developing new and original drugs to combat cancers. The support of the University’s alumni and friends, students, and the Bradford community, has played a crucial role in the development of groundbreaking treatments. These include the landmark development of the Crocus Smart-Bomb, a next-generation cancer therapeutic derived from the autumn crocus, Colchicum Autumnale.
In 2013 the University launched the pioneering Bradford Cancer Crocus Appeal, to raise money for a new Orbitrap mass spectrometer – an essential piece of equipment in developing this new treatment. Over the course of two years, more than £1 million was raised, and the new mass spectrometer was purchased in 2015.
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters and friends, the Crocus Smart-Bomb will soon enter Phase 1 Clinical Trials in hospitals across Yorkshire. The Crocus Smart-Bomb effectively combats solid tumours whilst minimising damage to the rest of the body, reducing the side-effects associated with traditional chemotherapies and improving patient prognoses and survival. We believe it will be effective in treating a wide range of cancers that impact on local communities, including colorectal, oral, breast and prostate cancers. We look forward to updating you on these and other discoveries, made possible by your generosity.
Looking to the future
In 2020 the ICT welcomed a new Director, Professor Sherif El-Khamisy, who has outlined a ground-breaking research programme which the ICT is uniquely placed to pursue. This will capitalise on the Institute’s ongoing successes in developing anticancer drugs, such as the Crocus Smart-Bomb.
Now, the ICT’s research team plan to develop a new generation of pro-drugs – drugs that activate after being metabolised within the body. This next generation of pro-drugs can be personalised according to a person’s condition and genetic profile. This will further optimise the patient experience of treatment delivery, minimise negative side-effects, and improve recovery and prognosis.
We expect these treatments will be effective in combatting a wide range of adult cancers - including lung, breast, bladder, colon, and prostate cancer - as well as being effective in childhood cancers such as neuroblastoma. As children are particularly vulnerable to the side-effects of traditional chemotherapies, the targeted interventions these next generation pro-drugs will allow could have revolutionary impacts on the treatment of childhood cancer
Prof. Sherif El-Khamisy, Director of the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics
We are actively seeking the support of alumni, charitable trusts and foundations, and industry to help us develop this new generation of cancer therapeutics. Your gift will allow us to invest in essential equipment that will bring these treatments from concept to clinic faster and more effectively – giving hope and comfort to those living with cancer, as well as their loved ones.
Donate Today
You can donate today to support the work of the ICT by visiting the University’s online giving page. Donations of all sizes are greatly appreciated, and many supporters choose to make smaller, monthly donations for convenience and sustainability. These gifts are also invaluable in helping us plan for the future.
You may prefer to discuss the work of the ICT in more detail before making the decision to give. To find out more information about our top priorities in vital research equipment, scholarships to nurture the next generation of cancer researchers, and to hear more about our current research projects, please contact Philip Fisher in the Development Team on p.fisher@bradford.ac.uk.
A Lasting Gift
Leaving a gift to the ICT in your Will is one of the most meaningful ways to contribute towards cancer research in the UK, and it is also one of the most transformative. Legacy gifts were vital to the development of the Crocus Smart-Bomb, and more recently have funded equipment and research positions that allowed us to make advances in mesothelioma research.
We understand that making a legacy is a very personal choice, and we are happy to discuss your needs to ensure that any gift you may wish to make is directed to an area of our work that you care most about. Please contact our Development Manager Lyndsey Robinson should you wish to have a conversation about your future giving on 01274 238058 or email l.robinson19@bradford.ac.uk.
Partnerships with Industry
The ICT represents an excellent sponsorship opportunity for businesses and organisations in Yorkshire and further afield. We are keen to establish new partnerships at the present time and will work closely with you to help ensure your corporate social responsibility goals are met and surpassed. To discuss specific opportunities please contact Dr Jason Jones on J.R.Jones@bradford.ac.uk.
Trusts and Foundations
The support of charitable trusts and foundations underpins the work of the ICT. If you represent a charitable organisation with an interest in supporting cancer research and those living with cancer, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Peter Lock in the Development Team on p.lock@bradford.ac.uk.
Our supporters
We are proud to have supporters who share the same passion about our vital work in cancer research that we do. Through our work, we are delighted to turn their generosity into research breakthroughs and cancer therapeutics which change and save lives.
David Pratt
“Among the Freemasons in Bradford we were immediately interested in the Crocus Appeal, launched by the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics in 2011. We saw how vital the mass spectrometer this campaign was looking to fund would be, and as such we worked with the ICT on a successful funding application for £47,500 to the national Masonic charity to support this important work.”
“With the ICT being a research institution of national and even global importance, but located right here at Bradford in ‘God’s Own County’, we as the local Freemasons have been absolutely delighted to provide our support. Since supporting the Crocus Appeal, our relationship with the ICT has grown and we are proud to have supported a number of vital projects at the ICT since, including important research into prostate cancer.”
“We strongly feel that the research conducted at the ICT is deserving of our support, as the centre has a well-established track record of successful innovation - as demonstrated by the new drugs that they have discovered and developed – as well as their commitment to the needs of the local community, and a proven commitment to a personalised patient-based approach to cancer research treatments.”
“If you are considering lending your support to this important work, we would strongly encourage you to join us in supporting the ICT here at Bradford.”
Mr. David Pratt, supporter of the ICT