More than £42m will be invested into cancer research in Manchester in a new funding deal.

Charity bosses say the cash will help scientists continue their work to ‘transform’ treatment against the disease and save more lives.

A total of £39m has been earmarked for the Cancer Research UK Manchester Centre – a partnership between the charity, Manchester University and the Christie hospital.

Plus a further £2.75m grant will be made to the Manchester Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre from the Cancer Research UK and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

The investment will also fund the training of the next generation of researchers, including 45 PhD students, to ensure the brightest scientists are supported.

Manchester was chosen by international panel of experts as one of two locations to receive major funding status by the charity.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

Cancer patient Sharon Quennell, from Chadderton in Oldham, said the investment is fantastic news for Manchester and the North West.

The mum-of-one was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 at the age of 36 after noticing a lump on her left breast.

She underwent surgery followed by 12 weeks of chemotherapy treatment and has since made a good recovery.

Sharon, now 52, said: “This is absolutely fantastic news for the North West. As someone who received their cancer treatment in Manchester, it is great that the inspiring work of the doctors, nurses, researchers and scientists here is being recognised nationally with such a big investment of cash.”

Professor Nic Jones, director of the Cancer Research UK Manchester Centre, based at The University of Manchester, said: “This funding award is fantastic news for the city and for our Centre and we are especially honoured to be selected as a Major Centre.

“The award represents a critical investment in the research infrastructure that will equip us with the tools needed to advance the understanding and treatment of cancer.

“This investment will boost efforts to transform treatments through the development of new approaches in personalised medicine.

“Our aim is to transform cancer treatment by optimising the delivery of radiotherapy, and by developing new approaches to treatment where decisions are guided by the specific characteristics of a patient’s tumour.

“This includes studying and characterising blood samples taken from patients at diagnosis and throughout their journey. We do this to look for markers released from the tumour that can provide key information to help doctors pick the right drug for the right patient.

“We also aim to detect early warning signs of cancer to provide earlier diagnosis, or to give a clear indication if a patient’s cancer has come back after treatment.”