Tuesday 3 February 2004 - News - Fire safety
Fire causes six-month setback for cancer research
Research at an internationally
renowned cancer research lab has been put back by six months following
a fire which destroyed precious tissue samples, its head said today.
The University of Birmingham-based Cancer Research UK Institute for Cancer Studies was left with a £250,000 repair bill after the blaze was sparked by a malfunctioning thermostat in the early hours of Sunday.
Professor Lawrence Young, who leads the research team, said: "Thankfully, no one was injured, but we've lost a lot of tissue samples we use in all our work, including breast cancer and leukaemia.
"The loss of the samples has put us back by two months, but it's going to be six months before we can move back into the laboratory because of all the damage."
Cancer Research UK has invested £3 million in the centre in Birmingham, which is considered to be at the forefront of clinical trials and studies into the disease.
Max Herd
The University of Birmingham-based Cancer Research UK Institute for Cancer Studies was left with a £250,000 repair bill after the blaze was sparked by a malfunctioning thermostat in the early hours of Sunday.
Professor Lawrence Young, who leads the research team, said: "Thankfully, no one was injured, but we've lost a lot of tissue samples we use in all our work, including breast cancer and leukaemia.
"The loss of the samples has put us back by two months, but it's going to be six months before we can move back into the laboratory because of all the damage."
Cancer Research UK has invested £3 million in the centre in Birmingham, which is considered to be at the forefront of clinical trials and studies into the disease.
Max Herd
