Today (4^th February) is World Cancer Day. The initiative, led by the Union for International Cancer Control, signifies a day for people around the world to unite in the fight against cancer. Cancer knows no borders, and in 2018 there were approximately 18 million new cancer cases diagnosed globally, and sadly 9.6 million people lose their lives annually as a result of having cancer¹ . If we don't act now, it is predicted that the number of cancer deaths will rise to 13 million per year by 2030¹ .

Progress against this devastating disease cannot be made by researchers in isolation. Researchers from diverse disciplines with various strengths and expertise must collaborate to broaden our understanding of this complex disease and increase the tools available to accelerate cancer research in order to identify ways to detect cancer early and treat it more effectively. Up to 3.7 million lives could be saved each year by utilising prevention, early detection and treatment strategies¹, and only through a united, global effort can we help those affected by cancer.

Here at the Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, researchers from around the world come together in a bid to beat cancer. Watch the video below to hear from our Director, Professor Nick Lemoine, and some of our researchers this World Cancer Day.