£2 million gift to transform translational cancer research

The Myristica Trust has awarded £2 million to Cardiff University to strengthen translational cancer research through the purchase of cutting-edge technology and the creation of three PhD studentships.

The award – the largest single gift made by the Trust to date – will transform the University’s cancer research capabilities, giving scientists access to advanced equipment that will revolutionise how cancer is studied, understood and treated.

The funding will support the purchase of six state-of-the-art pieces of equipment, including advanced imaging and sequencing systems. This technology will allow researchers to examine cancer at an unprecedented level of detail – offering the unique ability to observe how tumours grow, adapt, and resist treatment, and pinpoint exactly where new therapies can intervene.

Among the new equipment is a bench-top long-read DNA sequencing system, capable of analysing very long pieces of DNA. This will allow researchers to investigate the complex mutations linked to telomere dysfunction – a key driver of cancer development.

Another major addition is the MACSima system, which will revolutionise how scientists study molecules. The technology allows hundreds of different molecules to be analysed simultaneously in a single sample, compared to the handful currently possible. This equipment will combine what would normally take over 100 separate experiments into one automated process, dramatically accelerating progress and saving time and money.

Together, these new tools will help fast-track the journey from laboratory discovery to life-saving clinical trials.

While the equipment will directly support cancer researchers at Cardiff University, it will also be made accessible to the wider research community, encouraging collaboration across disciplines and maximising impact across multiple cancer types.

Alongside investing in technology, the gift will also support the next generation of cancer researchers through three new PhD studentships at the Myristica Centre for cancer research.

One studentship, supervised by Professor Duncan Baird, will focus on genomics and genome instability. A second, supervised by Dr Magda Meissner, will explore sarcoma, a rare type of cancer that starts in soft tissue, alongside virology research. A third studentship will be awarded at a later date.

The Myristica Trust has supported cancer research at Cardiff University for 20 years, most recently awarding £1 million to fund 9 PhD studentships. This latest commitment builds on a long-standing partnership and reflects the Trust’s continued confidence in Cardiff’s research excellence.

One of the Trustees of the Myristica Trust said: “We are delighted to extend our support once again to cancer research at Cardiff University. Over many years, we have seen first-hand the impact that sustained investment can have — not only in advancing scientific understanding, but in developing the people and infrastructure needed to translate discovery into real-world benefit.

“This latest gift reflects our confidence in Cardiff’s researchers and our shared commitment to driving meaningful progress in cancer research, from fundamental biology through to improved diagnosis and treatment for patients.”