Grant for cancer researchers based in region to benefit UK

The charity Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research is investing in further development of the Yorkshire & Humberside Haematology Research Network, which has already collected data from more than 10,000 blood cancer patients in the region.

The network works with 14 hospitals across Yorkshire to gather information about each patient's diagnosis, treatment and outcome.

The team, which is led by Prof Eve Roman of York University's Department of Health Sciences, now has some of the most detailed and accurate information in the world gathered from leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma sufferers

The new five-year investment will help the scientists to continue their analysis of this data, to provide new insights into what causes blood cancers, and which treatments are most effective.

Prof Roman said: "This project offers us a unique opportunity to guide treatment for patients and discover any factors which may be contributing to these diseases."

Dr David Grant, the charity's scientific director, said: "The work of our team in York over recent years has been outstanding and we're confident this new investment will lead to improved treatments."

More than 28,500 people are diagnosed with a blood cancer each year in the UK.