Who's who
Research Advisory Board
Jonathan Dimbleby
Chair
Professor Peter J Barrett-Lee
Consultant Oncologist & Honorary Senior Lecturer
Breast Unit, Velindre Cancer Centre, Cardiff
“Dimbleby Cancer care supports research projects in the realm of psychosocial support. There is so little research into this area of support, care and follow-up for cancer patients and their families and carers, so without DCC, important research opportunities could be lost.
The Advisory Board comprises members from a range of different specialities within the cancer field. This ensures that proposed research is considered from a wide perspective. Jonathan Dimbleby, as Chair, further widens the scope of discussions, bringing to them his experiences as a past user of cancer services, and his expertise in communicating.”
Dr. Frances da Cunha
General Practitioner, Somerset
“Dimbleby Cancer care has been funding research projects for the past three years with an emphasis on patients’ experience. Funding has been allocated to projects designed to research the gaps in end of life care, palliative care and the complex area of variability in accessing help for some patient groups. I agreed to join the medical advisory group and help assess the research proposals because, being a general practitioner and seeing patients of all ages throughout their “cancer journey”, these are areas where robust research projects could translate into development of best practice and make a difference to many individuals.”
Professor Marie Fallon
St Columba's Hospice Chair of Palliative Medicine
Edinburgh Cancer Centre
Western General Hospital, Edinburgh
“I feel a very strong sense that Dimbleby Cancer Care ensures that the areas of greatest importance to patients and carers are researched in an appropriate manner. The "care" aspect which often struggles to find funding is given huge importance. It is exciting to know that the work funded carries an unique opportunity to inform improved care of patients with cancer and their families.”
Jo Hudson
Dimbleby Cancer Care Clinical Nurse Specialist,
“DCC has a long history of helping to support patients going through the experience of cancer, which has been positively welcomed by all involved. What’s really exciting now though, is that through an expanded programme of activity, DCC is able to influence future care and comfort through the funding of some excellent national research projects. The results of ‘work in progress’ may even help to shape the development of true holistic cancer and palliative care in our 21st-century National Health Service – something that as a practising health care professional would be wonderful to share in with all my patients.”
Professor Jane Maher
Consultant Clinical Oncologist,
Lynda Jackson Macmillan Centre,
Mount Vernon Hospital.
Chief Medical Officer, Macmillan Cancer Relief
“As technical treatments become more complex, the work of Dimbleby Cancer Care encourages the best scientific minds to focus on the important issues surrounding supportive care for patients and families at a time whey they are undergoing difficult treatment. Their increasing portfolio makes me optimistic that they will really progress in this area.”
Professor Tim Peters
Professor of Primary Health Care Services and Deputy Head of the Department of Community Based Medicine
University of Bristol
“I am a member and chair of a number of research grant awarding committees. What strikes me most about the projects we assess and recommend for funding by Dimbleby Cancer Care is the combination of high quality research methods and the clear focus on what is relevant to patients, their families and carers. Nothing is ever guaranteed in research but this means there is every chance that the endeavours of researchers and participants in the studies will lead to real benefits to those who matter most – patients and carers themselves, and others in their situation.”
Professor Sir Mike Richards
National Cancer Director, Department of Health
Professor of Palliative Medicine, St Thomas’ Hospital, London
Professor Chris Todd
Professor of Primary Care & Community Health and Director of Research
School of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Work
University of Manchester
Dr Susie Wilkinson
Senior Lecturer in Palliative Care, and Director of the Marie Curie Palliative Research and Development Unit
Royal Free and University College Medical School
“It is very difficult for researchers to obtain grants for pilot and feasibility studies in the area of psychosocial research. DCC has demonstrated over the last three years, by the very large increase in research applications for these grants, that they are really filling an important gap in research funding. This will hopefully lead to more rigorous research in this underdeveloped area which is so important for improving the care patients and their families receive.”
Researching areas others don't
Only around 5% of cancer research spending in the UK is on care.
DCC provides up to £1m annually for research into cancer care & support.
Care centres that go beyond medical treatment
Over a quarter of people living with cancer receive no support other than treatment.
DCC's centres provide a range of care, comfort & support that goes beyond just treatment
Dimbleby Cancer Care has a small number of staff, therefore our ability to answer detailed questions on cancer care, symptoms or treatments is limited. However we are pleased to try and help you, by directing you to others who may be able to help.