A pioneering mesothelioma research centre has opened its doors in Sheffield, as the University sets to lead the way in patient-led research for this aggressive type of cancer. The centre marks the first of its kind to focus on improving patient care experience for those living with mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a cancer that most commonly affects the lining of the lungs, usually occurring after previous exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a carcinogenic compound made up of microscopic fibres, that can become easily embedded in the lungs. For many years, it was used widely as a building material due to its excellent insulating properties.
Despite being banned in 1999, asbestos still kills thousands of people in the UK each year. Mesothelioma can occur up to fifty years after asbestos exposure, with disease deaths currently thought to be reaching their peak, after the widespread industrial use of the carcinogenic material in the 1970s.
Currently, the prognosis for mesothelioma is extremely poor, with a fifty percent survival rate within a year of diagnosis, and only ten percent of people still living after five years with the disease. The UK has the world’s highest incidence of mesothelioma cases, with around 2,700 new cases diagnosed each year.
Established in 2020, the Mesothelioma UK Research Centre Sheffield (MURC-S) is dedicated to improving vital care and support for patients living with the disease, as well as generating evidence and knowledge to encourage prevention and awareness of mesothelioma.
The Co-Director of the MURC-S, Professor Angela Mary Tod, explained that patient support is a top priority for the new centre, stating that: “Finding an effective treatment or a cure for the terrible disease is obviously the main priority for researchers and clinicians worldwide, but here in Sheffield we are uniquely focused on patients’ experiences in order to drastically improve the support and care they receive.”
The centre is funded by Mesothelioma UK, a national charity dedicated to providing specialist education and care for everyone living with mesothelioma in the UK. Work in collaboration with international groups in South Africa and the United States has already commenced, in order to expand the global impact of MURC Sheffield.
