Our story: a history of cancer research at Bradford
As the University celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2026, it is timely to reflect that the city of Bradford has a proud history in cancer research that stretches back to before the formation of both the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, and indeed the University itself...
The beginnings of cancer research in Bradford
Robert Lowry Turner (1923-90) was a pathologist who came to Bradford Royal Infirmary in 1957, where he worked on breast cancer with surgeon George Whyte-Watson (1908-74). At the time, breast cancer was treated by mastectomy (surgery to remove the breast) followed by radiotherapy – this was the standard of care, but they found ‘wards full of women basically awaiting death.’
Turner and Whyte-Watson believed that more effective treatments could be found by considering breast cancer as a systemic disease, and that treatments were required to tackle where the cancer had spread (i.e. metastasis). Cancer chemotherapy has its origins in the 1940s where nitrogen mustards (derived from mustard gas used in World War II) were used to treat leukaemia. Turner believed this approach could also work in breast cancer, and he conducted clinical trials on derivatives of nitrogen mustards (ThioTEPA) in Bradford.
Telegraph & Argus / Yorkshire Observer, Bradford, 22 May 1959. Courtesy of the Bradford Local Studies Library
It is fair to say that their work was met with some scepticism initially: “…A surgeon dabbling in pharmaceutics with derivatives of a wartime poison gas, and a pathologist forsaking his proper station in life, the laboratory, to actually treat living patients…” They were ultimately vindicated, and their research placed the city and Bradford Royal Infirmary on the international stage. A plaque commemorating their contributions can be found in Bradford Cathedral.
The plaque at Bradford Cathedral.
Evolution of Cancer Research at Bradford
Robert Turner was appointed Professor at Bradford in 1975. His initial laboratory was on M floor of the Richmond building, where John Double and Mike Bibby were amongst his early appointments. Both would go on to make significant contributions to cancer research at the University. Bradford developed a national profile in cancer pharmacology: they built upon Turner’s work and established a group with an international reputation for cancer pharmacology, forming the Cancer Research Unit (CRU).
Below left, Prof Turner in the lab. Led by Prof John Double, the CRU relocated to dedicated premises off campus on All Saints Road (former Department of Environment buildings), below right.
Dr Arnold Moore and the Bradford War on Cancer
The Whyte-Watson Turner Trust was established in 1975 by Dr Arnold Moore MBE (1916-2010), a local businessman of some repute. His wife Margot contracted breast cancer and was treated by Turner at Bradford Royal Infirmary, but she eventually succumbed to the disease. Arnold and Margot set up the charity to support Turner’s cancer research, and this led to the formation of Bradford’s War on Cancer. The original target of £100,000 was achieved in the first 9 months, and a year later the Telegraph & Argus launched the ‘Give Us A Ring’ campaign to urge people to help the charity by collecting can ring-pulls. The charity provided major financial support for cancer research in Bradford for many years. Along with many charities at the time, Bradford’s War on Cancer merged with the national Cancer Research Campaign (which later became Cancer Research UK) in 1999, by which time it had raised millions of pounds and was nominated by six Lord Mayors of Bradford as their nominated cause. Arnold Moore leaves a wonderful legacy. He received an honorary doctorate (DSc) from the University of Bradford in 1985, and received an MBE from Her Majesty the Queen in the New Years Honours List, 2000.
Growing reputation and formation of the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics
Professor Tom Connors (1934–2002) was one of the best known and popular figures in cancer research, and boasted an international reputation. He was regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities on the development of new anti-cancer drugs, and co-established the Cancer Research UK Phase I/II clinical trials committee. From 1990 to 2000 Tom was Scientific Advisor to both Bradford’s War on Cancer and the Cancer Research Campaign, and frequently visited the All Saints Road site. His advice to both the War on Cancer trustees and CRU staff played a major part in the Unit gaining international recognition as a centre for anti-cancer drug development.
The Institute of Cancer Therapeutics (ICT) was born in 2005, following by a major expansion in the drug discovery area with the appointment of Prof Laurence Patterson as Director, bringing cancer pharmacology and drug discovery together for the first time. The ICT was successful in securing funding from Yorkshire Cancer Research over 3 successive programme awards 2005-21, with YCR playing a significant role in establishing the new Medicines Discovery laboratories on level 2 of ICT.
In 2006, the ICT re-located to its current home on the main city campus, and was officially opened by UoB Chancellor Imran Khan in 2008. Yorkshire Cancer Research supported research in ICT in successive programme awards 2005-21.
Incanthera: The ICT’s first spin-out company
Incanthera was founded in 2010 as a spin-out from the University, initially as a vehicle to commercialise the intellectual property underpinning the ICT’s tumour-targeted crocus drug, ICT2588. Incanthera is now an independent UK-based oncology and dermatology therapeutics company focused on development of targeted medicines for the treatment of cancer, and is a public company on the Aquis Stock exchange.
The Bradford Crocus Cancer Appeal
Building on the success of the ICT’s crocus drug, the Bradford Crocus Cancer Appeal was a charitable initiative between the University, the Telegraph & Argus, Yorkshire Cancer Research, and the Sovereign Health Care Community Fund, launched in 2013. The 2-year appeal raised more than £1 million, enabling the purchase of a new state-of-the-art Orbitrap mass spectrometer – an essential piece of equipment for identifying potential drug targets to aid in the discovery of novel cancer treatments.
The ICT Building opened in 2006.
Today at the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics
Today the ICT is the home of multidisciplinary teams working together to make fundamental discoveries and take them to the clinic. Early diagnosis and precision medicine are the future to winning the battle against cancer. The ICT, brings together cell and molecular biology, medicinal chemistry and pharmacology to take medicines and diagnostics from concept-to-clinic.
The ICT is world-renowned for research, training and partnerships with industry. It has over 30 years’ experience in drug discovery, cancer pharmacology, metabolite profiling and pharmacokinetics. Collaboration with world-leading universities including Stanford (USA), Harvard (USA), Oxford and Cambridge has been important for success, as has strong clinical links with Bradford Royal Infirmary and St James Hospital, Leeds in particular.
Highlights include:
- Taking drugs from concept to clinic: Besides ICT2588 mentioned above, the ICT has played a key role in the clinical progression of multiple agents towards clinical trials including AQ4N (banoxantrone) and EO9 (apaziquone). It is home to new spin-out companies UNIK Biotherapeutics and Hado Therapeutics.
- Pioneering targeted cancer therapeutics: Developing next-generation antibody-drug conjugate payloads, tumour-specific prodrugs, PROTACs, and efflux-resistant chemotherapeutics across multiple cancer types.
- Advancing precision medicine through industry partnerships: Providing advanced contract research services to industry clients across drug discovery, preclinical pharmacology, bioanalysis and Phase I GCP clinical trials support (ICT is a laboratory arm of the Leeds Clinical Trials Research Unit based at St James Hospital).
- Training the next generation of cancer researchers: Offering a range of PhD/MPhil, MRes, and MSc programmes.
- Our current funders include: Wellcome Trust, Masonic Charitable Foundation, BBSRC Yorkshire Biosciences DTP, Worldwide Cancer Research. Neuroblastoma UK, Children with Cancer, Animal Free Research UK, Yorkshire's Brain Tumour Charity, Royal Society of Chemistry, AMS Springboard, Schlumberger Foundation, Indian Council of Medical Research, NIHR and NIH.
Make a donation
Contributions from the public and organisations help us to continue our essential work in the battle against cancer - if you're interested in being part of the next phase of our history, please follow the link below: