THE East End received a cash boost this week as it became home to one of only two centres for cancer research in London. Experts at Queen Mary, University of London and Barts and The London NHS Trust which runs the Royal London will be leading the way

THE East End received a cash boost this week as it became home to one of only two 'centres' for cancer research in London.

Experts at Queen Mary, University of London and Barts and The London NHS Trust which runs the Royal London will be leading the way in its research into pancreatic, breast, ovarian and prostate cancer as well as leukaemia and lymphoma.

It will be the only network in the country to focus primarily on these specific forms of cancer after receiving �2m from Cancer Research UK and being named a research 'centre'.

Specialists at the `centre', known as Barts Cancer Research UK Centre, will investigate the genes that drive the disease, study more about cancer prevention and public health and uncover the best therapies and treatments.

And experts will be working closely with medics at the Bart's brand new cancer centre due to open in the spring which will house state-of-the-art imaging, radiotherapy and radiosurgery technology.

Professor John Gribben, consultant haematologist and medical oncologist at Barts trust said: "Ultimately this will improve cancer survival and enhance the quality of life for those with long-term disease.