University of York

York is a Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research Centre of Excellence.

We are currently investing £3.2 million into research at this centre.

We are also committed to groundbreaking research in Leeds, which is part of the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research Yorkshire Centre of Excellence. Find out more about our Centres of Excellence.

Our research in York aims to truly understand the causes of blood cancers, including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma in adults and children so that we can bring better treatments and improvements in diagnosis to patients across the UK.

In York we are investing in the Yorkshire & Humberside Haematology Research Network, which is a partnership between haematologists and Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research scientists in Yorkshire that aims to study every patient diagnosed with a blood cancer across the region.

The Network, which is based at University of York, covers a region of over 3.7 million people and has registered more than 10,000 patients since it was established in 2004. The team, led by Professor Eve Roman who has Specialist Programme funding from Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, collaborate with doctors, nurse specialists and NHS staff at 15 hospitals in the region to collect detailed information about patients including their specific diagnosis, treatment they have received and their life style.

The Network is truly leading the world as a unique research resource that will speed up our mission to achieve the routine cure of all blood cancers that affect around 28,500 people in the UK every year.

Cell bank

Dr Alex Smith, a member of the Yorkshire Network, has funding from Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research to manage a tissue bank, which stores blood and bone marrow samples from these patients. All information about patients remains anonymous and is only collected with their consent.

Analysis of this data is providing vital information about what causes blood cancers, how better diagnosis can guide treatment and how patients can benefit from new, more selective treatments. 

This type research is called epidemiology, which is defined as the study of factors that affect the health and illness of populations. Epidemiology is the underpinning discipline that guides the development of new treatments. It is also used to identify risk factors for specific diseases and determine appropriate preventative measures.

New data

Compilation of this data has resulted in the publication, in 2009, of the most accurate statistics to date concerning the number of people diagnosed with blood cancers in the UK every year.

Current research projects being carried out at the centre include improving the treatment strategy for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Scientists at the Network are investigating molecular information taken from patients and correlating this with their treatment and outcome. By analysing this it is possible to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of particular treatment strategies.

The Network are also monitoring the management of referring patients with blood cancers to palliative care specialist, when necessary. This is an area of patient centred treatments that is very understudied, and in need of improving.