The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research open ground-breaking facility bringing smart trials to the NHS (- UK)

 Scientists will monitor whether new-generation cancer drugs are successfully hitting their targets by simply plucking samples from patients' eyebrows following the opening of a new world-class research facility at The Royal Marsden and its academic research partner, The Institute of Cancer Research, London.

 Hair follicles and blood samples will be among the tissues tested at the new Centre for Molecular Pathology (CMP) under a new brand of smart trials monitoring whether new-generation cancer drugs are hitting their molecular targets. 

The centre brings together clinicians, geneticists, pathologists and scientists under one roof for the first time, dramatically speeding up the research and treatment development process.  And as part of the new brand of smart trials, researchers at the CMP aim to monitor precisely how cancer drugs are working inside tumour cells by taking samples of a patient's eyebrows during their course of treatment. 

Working side by side to advance cancer research and treatment, the teams will be able to better understand each patient's individual tumour type and develop personalised treatment plans faster than ever before, making our vision of personalised medicine a reality. 

Contact: ICR Communications Manager Tatjana Trposka on 020 7153 5312 or 07780 689 891. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.