£2million Jacqui Wood Campaign draws to a close

Published On Thu 3 Sep 2015 by Roddy Isles

The Ninewells Cancer Campaign, which has raised in excess of £20million to support cancer research and treatment in Dundee, is celebrating the successful conclusion of its latest fundraising drive.

The Jacqui Wood Cancer Centre, on the University of Dundee Medical School campus at Ninewells Hospital, stands as tribute to the work done by Jacqui, who was Chairman of the Ninewells Cancer Campaign from its foundation in 1991 until her sad death in May 2011.

The Ninewells Cancer Campaign launched a £2million fundraising drive to support the new Centre in 2012 to commemorate Jacqui. This campaign has been outstandingly successful, and the £2m funds raised have created a marvellous legacy to mark the work of Jacqui.

In addition to allowing the development of state of the art laboratories, the funds have supported recruitment of key scientists to drive forward the research programmes carried out in the University and its NHS partner in Tayside. Prominent among the new recruits who have been brought to Dundee by the availability of the funds is Professor Russell Petty, the newly appointed Chair of Medical Oncology.

Russell is a graduate of the Medical School at Dundee and is presently Professor of Oncology in Aberdeen. His speciality is the treatment of Oesophageal cancer, with an approach that aims to stratify patients by the molecular characteristics of their tumours.

Professor John Connell, Vice-Principal of the University of Dundee, said, “We are delighted to have been able to attract Russell back to Dundee with the considerable help of the Jacqui Wood Campaign.

“We have appointed Russell to lead clinical research within the the Dundee Cancer Centre, where he will work closely with colleagues across the University and NHS to support translational cancer research and ultimately deliver real benefits to patients.”

The Jacqui Wood Centre at Ninewells hosts more than 100 clinicians and scientists working in state-of-the-art facilities.

“It was a long-held ambition of ours to locate all of the Medical School’s cancer work in one location and this fundraising campaign has enabled us to do that,” said Professor Connell.

“The work being done in the Jacqui Wood Centre is helping to transform lives and bring us closer to finding the causes of cancer and how we can best tackle it. This is work that cannot be done without the tremendous help we receive from charities and the public across Tayside and Fife.”

Lady Fraser, who chaired the Jacqui Wood Campaign, praised the tremendous support of the public across Tayside and Fife.

“It is testament to the high regard in which Jacqui was held that so many people have worked tirelessly to help us reach our target of £2million,” said Lady Fraser, who chaired the campaign. “Once again we are humbled by the marvellous support shown by the many local charitable trusts, companies, individuals, groups and clubs for our fundraising work.”

Roddy Isles
Head of Press
TEL: 01382 384910
MOBILE: 07800 581902
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk